Computer-controlled neurological stimulation system

• US 5,370,672 A
• Filed: 10/30/1992
• Issued: 12/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Fowler, Kim R., North, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parker, Marianne
• Application Number:
  US07/969,691
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 607/43, 607/46, 607/48, 607/58, 607/62, 607/63
• US Class Current: 607/58
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

Neurological stimulation alleviates chronic pain and other functional neurologic disorders by delivering electrical impulses to the nervous system of a patient. Within this setting, a computer interface optimizes stimulation with commercially available neurostimulators. The computer and interface, in cooperation with a unique graphics input device, deliver arbitrary and unique paradigms of stimulation. The computer interface provides for efficient patient interaction, optimizes stimulation automatically, and reduces the demands imposed on the time of health care professionals.

Claims

1. A system for collecting and analyzing pain drawings in a computer-controlled neurological stimulation system for use with implanted neurological stimulators for relieving chronic, intractable pain in a patient by optimizing pulses from a transmitter inductively coupled by an antenna to a receiver portion of said stimulators comprising:

a host computer for driving said transmitter to produce output pulses of variable frequency, pulse width, and amplitude;

a tablet;

a graphics input device coupled to said host computer and having a stylus means movable relative to a writing surface of said tablet for generating digital information conveyed to said computer;

said stylus means being responsive to movement by the patient to make a topographical sketch of the pain being experienced, outline a topography of paresthesias in response to said transmitter pulses, and adjust the amplitude of said transmitter pulses;

correspondence indicating means on said graphics input device for indicating overlap of stimulation paresthesias with the topographical sketch of pain;

an interface enclosure;

an interface within said interface enclosure;

said interface enclosure further including microcontroller means operably coupled to said computer through said interface for timing the transmitter pulses and modulating the amplitude of stimulation in response to commands from said computer, for said interface enclosure further including a digital-to-analog converter connected to said microcontroller means and defining the amplitude of the pulses supplied by said transmitter to said antenna;

means for connecting said host computer to said interface enclosure;

an overlay applied to cover the writing surface of said tablet;

said overlay containing anatomical figures on which the patient sketches topographical drawings of perceived pain and paresthesias sensations; and

said correspondence indicating means including a line sensor area on said overlay engageable by said stylus means for indicating a level of correspondence which varies between no overlap of the paresthesias to the topography of pain and maximum overlap.