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Ultrasonic techniques for neurostimulator control

  • US 5,628,317 A
  • Filed: 04/04/1996
  • Issued: 05/13/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for stimulation of a spinal cord or tissue adjacent a spinal cord located within the spinal column of a vertebrate comprising in combination:

  • ultrasonic transducer means adapted to be implanted adjacent said spinal cord for producing ultrasonic sound waves that create ultrasonic echo waves reflected from a predetermined portion of said spinal cord and for generating a distance signal in response to said ultrasonic echo waves, a value of said distance signal being related to a distance between said transducer means and said predetermined portion of said spinal cord;

    a stimulation driver for generating a stimulation signal;

    a drive amplifier responsive to said stimulation signal and said distance signal for generating a drive signal that increases in value as the distance between said transducer means and said predetermined portion increases, and decreases in value as the distance between said transducer means and said predetermined portion decreases;

    at least one stimulation electrode adapted to be implanted adjacent said spinal cord; and

    means for transmitting said drive signal to said at least one electrode, whereby the uniformity of stimulation received by said spinal cord or adjacent tissue is increased in spite of changes in the relative distance between said transducer means and said predetermined portion of said spinal cord.

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