Mandible stimulator

• US 4,174,706 A
• Filed: 06/27/1977
• Issued: 11/20/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard Jankelson
• Original Assignee: Bernard Jankelson
• Inventors: Radke, John C., Jankelson, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US05/810,507
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 128/422, 128/410, 128/419 R, 128/421, 128/423, 128/2.1 R, 128/2.1 P, 128/2.1 Z, 128/2.06 R, 128/1 C
• US Class Current: 600/554
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A stimulator for causing involuntary mandibular closure. In a "test" mode a constant voltage is applied to left and right electrode circuits, and the currents through the electrode circuits are measured to determine electrode circuit conductivity. A first comparator circuit flashes respective "open" circuit warning lamps if the current through either of the electrodes is less than a preset value, and it flashes a "good" connection indicator lamp if the current through both electrodes is greater than the preset value. A second comparator circuit determines if the current through one electrode exceeds the current through the other electrode by a preset value, and flashes respective "low" current warning lamps in response thereto. In the "pulse" mode an oscillator repetatively charges a capacitor to a high voltage through a pulse transformer, and the high voltage is then gated to a control circuit which generates a current pulse having an adjustable amplitude through the electrode circuits to produce involuntary mandibular closure. The amplitude of the current through one electrode circuit with respect to the current through the other electrode circuit may be adjusted with a balance control. In the "pulse" mode, the battery voltage is also measured, and respective lamps flash in synchronism with the current pulses to indicate whether the battery is producing the proper voltage or whether the battery must be replaced.

Claims

1. A mandible stimulator for providing controlled electrical stimulation of the multiplicity of muscles innervated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, comprising:

a power source;

output means having right, left and common outputs, said output means including a right electrode connected to said right output, a left electrode connected to said left output and a dispersal electrode connected to said common output, said output means being adapted to form a right electrode circuit through the body of a patient between the right side of said patient'"'"'s face and said dispersal electrode and a left electrode circuit through the body of said patient between the left side of said patient'"'"'s face and said dispersal electrode;

amplitude control means for selecting the intensity of said electrical stimulation;

constant current pulsing means connected to said power source for periodically generating a right stimulus pulse between said right and common outputs, and a left stimulus pulse between said left and common outputs, said right and left stimulus pulses producing currents in said right and left electrode circuits, respectively, which are a constant value corresponding to the intensity selected by said amplitude control means such that the electrical stimulation of said muscles is unaffected by variations in electrode circuit resistance; and

electrode circuit testing means for measuring the conductance of said electrode circuits and providing a visual indication of the condition thereof, said testing means comprising right and left circuit conductance sensing means for generating right and left conductance signals indicative of the conductance in said right and left electrode circuits, respectively;

first comparator mens receiving said right and left conductance signals for illuminating a right open circuit indicating lamp and a left open circuit indicating lamp responsive to the conductance in said right and left electrode circuits, respectively, being less than a first predetermined value; and

second comparator means receiving said right and left conductance signals for illuminating a right circuit low conductance indicating lamp responsive to the conductance of said right electrode circuit being less than the conductance of said left electrode circuit by a second predetermined value, and for illuminating a left circuit low conductance indicating lamp responsive to the conductance of said left electrode circuit being less than the conductance of said right electrode circuit by said second predetermined value thereby providing a visual indication of circuit unbalance.

2. The mandible stimulator of claim 1 further including low conductance indicating lamp inhibit means for preventing said low conductance indicating lamps from illuminating when the respective open circuit indicating lamp is illuminated such that a visual indication of electrode circuit low conductance is not produced when said electrode circuit is open.

3. The mandible stimulator of claim 1 further including indicator means receiving said right and left conductance signals for illuminating a good circuit condition indicating lamp responsive to the conductance of said right electrode circuit and the conductance of said left electrode circuit exceeding said first predetermined value.

4. A mandible stimulator for providing controlled electrical stimulation of the multiplicity of muscles innervated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, comprising:

a power source;

output means having right, left and common outputs, said output means including a right electrode connected to said right output, a left electrode connected to said left output and a dispersal electrode connected to said common output, said output means being adapted to form a right electrode circuit through the body of a patient between the right side of said patient'"'"'s face and said dispersal electrode and a left electrode circuit through the body of said patient between the left side of said patient'"'"'s face and said dispersal electrode;

amplitude control means for selecting the intensity of said electrical stimulation, said amplitude control means including potentiometer means having a linear resistance winding and potentiometer wiper adjustably contacting said resistance winding, control circuit means connected to said potentiometer means, said control circuit means having a non-linear transfer function such that the intensity of said electrical stimulation is a non-linear function of the position of said potentiometer wiper and compensating means connected to said potentiometer means and said control circuit means for counteracting the non-linear characteristic of said control circuit means such that the intensity of said electrical stimulation is a linear function of the position of said potentiometer; and

constant current pulsing means connected to said power source for periodically generating a right stimulus pulse between said right and common outputs, and a left stimulus pulse between said left and common outputs, said right and left stimulus pulses producing currents in said right and left electrode circuits, respectively, which are a constant value corresponding to the intensity selected by said amplitude control means such that the electrical stimulation of said muscles is unaffected by variations in electrode circuit resistance.

5. In a mandible stimulator for providing controlled electrical stimulation of the multiplicity of muscles innervated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, said stimulator further including a right electrode adapted to be secured to the right side of a patient'"'"'s face, a left electrode adapted to be secured to the left side of said patient'"'"'s face and a dispersal electrode adapted to be connected to an upper part of said patient'"'"'s body thereby forming a right electrode circuit through the body of said patient between the right side of said patient'"'"'s face and said dispersal electrode and a left electrode circuit through the body of said patient between the left side of said patient'"'"'s face and said dispersal electrode, and means for applying said stimulation to said electrodes, the improvement comprising electrode circuit testing means for measuring the conductances of said electrode circuits and for providing a visual indication of the condition thereof, said testing means comprising:

right and left circuit conductance sensing means for generating right and left conductance signals indicative of the conductance in said right and left electrode circuits, respectively;

first comparator means receiving said right and left conductance signals for illuminating a right open circuit indicating lamp and a left open circuit indicating lamp responsive to the conductance in said right and left electrode circuits, respectively, being less than a first predetermined value;

second comparator means receiving said right and left conductance signals for illuminating a right circuit low conductance indicating lamp responsive to the conductance of said right electrode circuit being less than the conductance of said left electrode circuit by a second predetermined value, and for illuminating a left circuit low conductance indicating lamp responsive to the conductance of said left electrode circuit being less than the conductance of said right electrode circuit by said second predetermined value thereby providing a visual indication of circuit unbalance.

6. The mandible stimulator of claim 5 further including low conductance indicating lamp inhibit means for preventing said low conductance indicating lamps from illuminating when the respective open circuit indicating lamp is illuminated such that a visual indication of electrode circuit low conductance is not produced when said electrode circuit is open.

7. The mandible stimulator of claim 5 further including indicator means receiving said right and left conductance signals for illuminating a good circuit condition indicating lamp responsive to the conductance of said right electrode circuit and the conductance of said left electrode circuit exceeding said first predetermined value.