Implantable bone growth stimulator and method of operation
First Claim
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1. An implantable growth stimulator having a status, the stimulator comprising:
- first and second plate electrodes for subcutaneous implantation at a predetermined distance from a tissue site;
a thin elongate member of elastomer connecting and generally maintaining a predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes;
a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; and
a driver circuit having means for generating for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes thereby producing first and second monitorable voltages on said first and second electrodes, respectively, said alternating current operative to stimulate tissue growth at the tissue site.
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Abstract
A method for the therapeutic stimulation of bone growth of a bone site is disclosed comprising the steps of implanting first and second electrodes into the tissue near the base site. The electrodes are coupled to a bone growth stimulator which generates an alternating current.
199 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An implantable growth stimulator having a status, the stimulator comprising:
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first and second plate electrodes for subcutaneous implantation at a predetermined distance from a tissue site; a thin elongate member of elastomer connecting and generally maintaining a predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes; a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; and a driver circuit having means for generating for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes thereby producing first and second monitorable voltages on said first and second electrodes, respectively, said alternating current operative to stimulate tissue growth at the tissue site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable growth stimulator comprising:
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first and second electrodes spaced apart a predetermined distance for being subcutaneously implanted a predetermined distance from a tissue site; a thin elongate member of elastomer for connecting and generally maintaining predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes; a driver circuit connected to said first and second electrodes having means for generating, for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes in order to stimulate tissue growth; a receiver circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for receiving external signals, the external signals representative of a desired mode of operation of the stimulator; a time base circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for modifying the mode of operation of the stimulator responsive to the external signals; and a modem circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for generating signals representative of a status of the stimulator; and a transmitter circuit connected to said modem circuit having means for transmitting the signals to an external receiver. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An implantable growth stimulator comprising:
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first and second plate electrodes for being subcutaneously implanted adjacent a tissue site; a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; a driver circuit connected to said electrodes having a switch circuit having means for generating an alternating current between said first and second electrodes, said alternating current operative to generate an electric field having a negative excursion at the tissue site between -0.3 and -3 mV/cm so as to promote healing at the tissue site.
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22. A method for the therapeutic stimulation of a tissue site comprising the steps of:
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subcutaneously implanting a growth stimulator into a tissue near the tissue site, the stimulator having first and second electrodes disposed a predetermined distance from the tissue site; and generating an alternating current flowing through an exposed portion of the first and second electrodes operative to generate an electric field having a negative excursion at the tissue site between -0.3 and -3 mV/cm so as to promote healing at the tissue site.
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Specification