Implantable externally programmable microprocessor-controlled tissue stimulator
First Claim
1. An implantable tissue stimulator, comprisingat least one stimulation electrodea digital data processor including stored program means containing program instructions and processing means with command outputs and an interrupt request input for fetching and executing instructions from said stored program means, said stored program means containing means defining instructions for causing said processing means to generate a pulse command output in response to an interrupt request,pulse timing means for producing an interrupt request at predetermined intervals, andpulse generator means responsive to said pulse command output for applying a corresponding stimulation pulse to said electrode.
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Abstract
A microprocessor-controlled implantable programmable stimulator includes a pulse generator external to the microprocessor for producing stimulation output pulses to multiple electrodes. A microprocessor implements a stored program data processing system which sets latches to establish pulse parameters. Externally transmitted parameter data is decoded by the processing system, confirmed by two-way telemetry and loaded into control registers. The microprocessor obtains corresponding stored values from parameter tables in a ROM, and then sets amplitude, rate and width latches. The pulse rate and width latches preset separate counters operated by respective slow and fast clocks. To conserve power, the fast clock is enabled only briefly each time the rate counter times out. When running, the fast clock replaces the slow clock input to the microprocessor. The timed-out signal from the rate counter generates an interrupt request which calls a subroutine to reprogram electrode polarity before enabling each output pulse. This system allows several electrodes to be alternately connected as anodes and cathodes. An internal machine cycle counting routine disables the interrupt capability during the off portion of a scheduled on/off cycle and programs the rate to a fixed minimum.
160 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An implantable tissue stimulator, comprising
at least one stimulation electrode a digital data processor including stored program means containing program instructions and processing means with command outputs and an interrupt request input for fetching and executing instructions from said stored program means, said stored program means containing means defining instructions for causing said processing means to generate a pulse command output in response to an interrupt request, pulse timing means for producing an interrupt request at predetermined intervals, and pulse generator means responsive to said pulse command output for applying a corresponding stimulation pulse to said electrode.
Specification