Regenerative electrical
First Claim
1. A nerve regeneration device of the type comprising an external controller portion and an implantable stimulator portion, the stimulator portion to provide electrical stimulus to nerve tissue;
- the external controller comprising;
a first antenna coil;
a radio frequency transmitter connected to the antenna coil, the transmitter generating electromagnetic radiation at a selected transmission frequency;
whereby the antenna coil radiates the electromagnetic radiation as a signal;
a first receiver means connected to the first antenna coil to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected back to the first antenna coil, the receiver having means for generating a signal corresponding to the reflected electromagnetic radiation;
a control processor connected to the receiver means, the control processor having means for receiving and responding to said signal;
the stimulator portion comprising;
a second antenna coil that couples with the first antenna coil and absorbs a portion of the electromagnetic radiation;
a sensing means for detecting a specified condition of the stimulator portion, the sensing means providing a condition indicating signal which varies as a function of the condition;
a reflecting means for reflecting a portion of the electromagnetic radiation as a signal back to the first antenna coil;
a switching means for activating and deactivating said reflecting means;
a second control processor connected to the switching means and to the sensing means;
the control processor having means for operating the switching means in accordance with the condition indicating signal, whereby the reflected electromagnetic radiation forms an encoded signal corresponding to the specified condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A regenerative electrical stimulation device comprising a stimulator portion to be surgically implanted in patients and an external controller portion. The implanted stimulator portion provides electrical stimuli of selected parameters to damaged nerve tissue to stimulate regeneration and/or healing of the damaged nerve tissue. The external controller portion communicates with the implanted stimulator portion to turn the stimulator portion on and off, to change the parameters of the electrical stimuli, to recharge the batteries, and to monitor the status of the batteries. The implanted portion has an antenna coil, a receiver, a programmable control processor, rechargeable batteries, and a passive transmitter. The external controller portion has an antenna coil, a control processor, a transmitter, a receiver for receiving the data passively transmitted by the implantable portion, and a display means.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A nerve regeneration device of the type comprising an external controller portion and an implantable stimulator portion, the stimulator portion to provide electrical stimulus to nerve tissue;
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the external controller comprising; a first antenna coil; a radio frequency transmitter connected to the antenna coil, the transmitter generating electromagnetic radiation at a selected transmission frequency;
whereby the antenna coil radiates the electromagnetic radiation as a signal;a first receiver means connected to the first antenna coil to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected back to the first antenna coil, the receiver having means for generating a signal corresponding to the reflected electromagnetic radiation; a control processor connected to the receiver means, the control processor having means for receiving and responding to said signal; the stimulator portion comprising; a second antenna coil that couples with the first antenna coil and absorbs a portion of the electromagnetic radiation; a sensing means for detecting a specified condition of the stimulator portion, the sensing means providing a condition indicating signal which varies as a function of the condition; a reflecting means for reflecting a portion of the electromagnetic radiation as a signal back to the first antenna coil; a switching means for activating and deactivating said reflecting means; a second control processor connected to the switching means and to the sensing means;
the control processor having means for operating the switching means in accordance with the condition indicating signal, whereby the reflected electromagnetic radiation forms an encoded signal corresponding to the specified condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A nerve regeneration device of the type comprising an external controller portion and an implantable stimulator portion that provides electrical stimulus to nerve tissue;
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the external controller comprising; a first antenna coil; a radio frequency transmitter, the transmitter having means for generating a carrier wave, the transmitter including a means for modulating said carrier wave, the radio frequency transmitter connected to the first antenna coil whereby the antenna coil radiates the modulated carrier wave; and a first control processor which includes a means for encoding commands to produce an encoded signal to be sent to the stimulator portion, the first control processor connected to the modulating means of the radio frequency transmitter for modulating the carrier wave as a function of the encoded signal; and the stimulator portion comprising; a second antenna coil; a capacitor electrically connected to the antenna coil forming a tuned circuit whereby a coupling effect is created between first antenna coil and the second antenna coil when they are in proximity to each other, and whereby the modulating carrier wave is received by the second antenna coil; a sensing means for detecting a condition of the stimulator portion, the sensing means providing a condition indicating signal which varies as a function of the condition; a switching means connected to the tuned circuit, the switching means for short circuiting the tuned circuit whereby the carrier wave is reflected back to the first antenna coil; a receiver means connected to the second antenna coil, the receiver means having means for receiving the modulated carrier wave and for generating an encoded signal corresponding to the encoded signal produced by the first control processor; a second control processor connected to the receiver means for receiving and decoding the encoded commands from the external controller portion and for responding to said commands;
the control processor further comprising an operating means connected to the switching means for short circuiting the tuned circuit corresponding to the condition indicating signal to be communicated to the external controller portion;a rechargeable battery means for providing power for the stimulator portion; and a means for converting radio frequency power absorbed by the second antenna to recharge the battery means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification