Nerve fiber stimulation using symmetrical biphasic waveform applied through plural equally active electrodes
First Claim
1. A device for providing electrical stimulation through plural active electrodes to preselected nerve fibers having known refractory periods and enhanced excitability conditions that occur during known periods following the occurrence of an action potential, said device comprising:
- generating means for generating a series of output pulse pairs with each said pair having first and second pulses of positive and negative polarity, respectively, and with said first pulse occurring timewise before said second pulse, said pulses of each said pulse pair being spaced from one another a distance, in time, substantially equal to that of the known refractory period of said preselected nerve fibers to be stimulated, and each pulse of each said pulse pair of said series of pulse pairs occurring so as to be timewise spaced from each corresponding pulse of each adjacent pulse pair a distance less than the timewise occurrence of said enhanced excitability condition of said preselected nerve fibers to be stimulated;
first and second electrodes; and
coupling means connected with said generating means and said first and second electrodes to apply said series of output pulse pairs to said preselected nerve fibers through said first electrode and to apply said series of output pulse pairs in inverted polarity to said preselected nerve fibers through said second electrode so that said applied positive pulse of each said pulse pair sets said preselected nerve fibers, and so that said later occurring applied negative pulse of each said pulse pair occurs substantially at the end of said refractory period to excite said preselected nerve fibers, whereby said first and second electrodes are both made active to promote stimulation of said preselected nerve fibers and thereby increase the activity thereof.
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Abstract
Nerve fiber stimulation is disclosed using a symmetrical biphasic waveform applied through plural active electrodes to increase the activity of the nerve fibers then selected for stimulation. Bi-phased pulse pairs are repeatedly symmetrically generated and applied to the nerve fibers to be stimulated with the first pulse of each pulse pair being a positive polarity pulse applied through a first electrode to cause the nerve fibers to be set into the refractory period and with the second pulse of each pulse pair being a negative polarity pulse applied through the first electrode to occur substantially at the end of the refractory period for the nerve fibers then to be stimulated to thereby excite those nerve fibers. The pulse pairs are also applied in inverted polarity through a second electrode with the inverted second pulse thus resulting in an applied positive pulse at the second electrode to cause the nerve fibers to be stimulated to be set into the refractory period and with the inverted first pulse of the succeeding pulse pair resulting in an applied negative pulse at the second electrode occurring substantially at the end of the refractory period for the particular nerve fibers to be stimulated to thereby excite those nerve fibers. Plural channels having dual active electrodes can be provided with applied bi-phased pulses being timewise offset from one another to maintain isolation between channels.
171 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device for providing electrical stimulation through plural active electrodes to preselected nerve fibers having known refractory periods and enhanced excitability conditions that occur during known periods following the occurrence of an action potential, said device comprising:
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generating means for generating a series of output pulse pairs with each said pair having first and second pulses of positive and negative polarity, respectively, and with said first pulse occurring timewise before said second pulse, said pulses of each said pulse pair being spaced from one another a distance, in time, substantially equal to that of the known refractory period of said preselected nerve fibers to be stimulated, and each pulse of each said pulse pair of said series of pulse pairs occurring so as to be timewise spaced from each corresponding pulse of each adjacent pulse pair a distance less than the timewise occurrence of said enhanced excitability condition of said preselected nerve fibers to be stimulated; first and second electrodes; and coupling means connected with said generating means and said first and second electrodes to apply said series of output pulse pairs to said preselected nerve fibers through said first electrode and to apply said series of output pulse pairs in inverted polarity to said preselected nerve fibers through said second electrode so that said applied positive pulse of each said pulse pair sets said preselected nerve fibers, and so that said later occurring applied negative pulse of each said pulse pair occurs substantially at the end of said refractory period to excite said preselected nerve fibers, whereby said first and second electrodes are both made active to promote stimulation of said preselected nerve fibers and thereby increase the activity thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A device for providing electrical stimulation through plural active electrodes to preselected nerve fibers having known refractory periods and enhanced excitability conditions that occur following the occurrence of an action potential, said device comprising:
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generating means for generating a series of output pulse pairs each having first and second pulses with said first pulse of each said pulse pair being a positive polarity pulse and said second pulse of each said pulse pair being a negative polarity pulse, said first and second pulses of each said pulse pair and each said second pulse and the timewise adjacent first pulse of a succeeding pulse pair being spaced, in time, from one another a distance substantially equal to the known refractory period of said preselected nerve fibers; first and second electrodes; and coupling means connected with said generating means and said first and second electrodes to receive said pulses from said generating means and to apply said pulses to said preselected nerve fibers through said first electrode and to apply said pulses in inverted polarity to said preselected nerve fibers through said second electrode so that said first pulse of each said pulse pair acts through said first electrode to set said preselected nerve fibers and said second pulse of each said pulse pair acts through said first electrode substantially at the end of said refractory period for said preselected nerve fibers to excite said preselected nerve fibers, and so that said inverted second pulse of each said pulse pair acts through said second electrode to set said preselected nerve fibers and said inverted first pulse of each succeeding pulse pair acts through said second electrode substantially at the end of said refractory period for said preselected nerve fibers to excite said preselected nerve fibers, whereby both said first and second electrodes are substantially equally active to enhance stimulation of said preselected nerve fibers. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method for enhancing electrical stimulation through plural active electrodes of nerve fibers having predetermined refractory periods and enhanced excitability conditions that occur during known periods following the occurrence of an action potential, said method comprising:
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generating a first pulse of positive polarity and applying said first pulse through a first electrode to nerve fibers to be electrically stimulated to thereby set said nerve fibers; generating a second pulse of negative polarity and applying said second pulse through said first electrode to said nerve fibers to be electrically stimulated to cause excitation thereof, with said second pulse being generated at a time subsequent to said first pulse that is substantially equal to that of the refractory period for said nerve fibers then to be stimulated; repeatedly generating said first and second pulses with each occurrence of each said first pulse being timewise spaced from each adjacent preceding second pulse a distance that is substantially equal to that of the refractory period for said nerve fibers with the spacing between corresponding adjacent ones of said first and second pulses being sufficiently near to the timewise occurrence of said enhanced excitability condition of said preselected nerve fibers to be stimulated to enhance stimulation of said nerve fibers; inverting said second pulse and applying said resulting positive pulse through said second electrode to said nerve fibers to be stimulated to thereby set said nerve fibers; and inverting said next occurring first pulse and applying said resulting negative pulse through said second electrode to said nerve fibers to be stimulated to cause excitation thereof. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification