Ultrasonic techniques for neurostimulator control
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lead adapted to be implanted adjacent a spinal cord located within a spinal column of a vertebrate in order to facilitate stimulation of the spinal cord or adjacent tissue. An ultrasonic transmitter/receiver produces an ultrasonic sound wave that creates ultrasonic echo waves reflected from a predetermined portion of the spinal cord and generates a distance signal related to the distance between the transducer/receiver and the predetermined portion of the spinal cord. The distance signal is used to adjust the amplitude of an electrical stimulation signal that stimulates the spinal cord or adjacent tissue so that the value of the stimulation signal tends to remain uniform in spite of changes in the relative distance between the transducer/receiver and the predetermined portion of the spinal cord.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for stimulation of a spinal cord or tissue adjacent a spinal cord located within the spinal column of a vertebrate by means of a transducer and one or more stimulation electrodes implanted adjacent said spinal cord comprising the steps of:
-
producing ultrasonic sound waves that create ultrasonic echo waves reflected from a predetermined portion of said spinal cord; 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 and said predetermined portion of said spinal cord; generating a stimulation signal; generating a drive signal responsive to said stimulation signal and said distance signal, said drive signal increasing in value as the distance between said transducer and said predetermined portion increases, and decreasing in value as the distance between said transducer and said predetermined portion decreases; and transmitting said drive signal to said at least one stimulation 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 and said predetermined portion of said spinal cord. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification