Nerve stimulator and method
First Claim
1. A device for improved nerve stimulation via a percutaneous insulated needle for the performance of therapeutic interventions targeting nerves within living tissue, comprising:
- a needle electrode which is configured to be used percutaneously and is insulated except at a tip;
a return electrode;
a pulse generator;
a background waveform generator;
a switch electrically connected to the pulse generator and the background waveform generator and configured to connect one of the pulse generator and the background waveform generator at a time to the needle electrode and the return electrode;
a pulse conditioning circuit electrically connected in series with an electrical path created through tissue between the needle and the return electrodes when the needle electrode and the return electrode are applied to tissue;
sensors electrically connected to the needle electrode and the return electrode and configured to detect electrical characteristics of the waveforms generated by the pulse and background waveform generators; and
a controller configured for acquiring user parameter choices, for acquiring real-time measurements of the pulse and waveform, for calculating other waveform characteristics from the measurements, for calculating tissue characteristics from the waveform characteristics, and for adjusting parametric characteristics of the pulse generator, the background waveform generator and the conditioning circuit, to produce a desired waveform across the electrodes and to generate various measured and calculated values for the benefit of a practitioner when the needle electrode is advanced into the tissue;
wherein the controller is programmed to adjust the parametric characteristics of the pulse and background waveform generators and the conditioning circuit in order to produce a desirable waveform across the electrodes by sampling the electrical characteristics of the waveforms using the sensors.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention presents a device, and the method it implements, which is an improvement in the design of nerve stimulators. Like conventional stimulators, it uses a percutaneous, insulated needle for the performance of therapeutic interventions targeting nerves. The improvement comprises offering an option for either constant current or constant voltage, offering a choice of waveform parameters, controlling a pulse generator, supplying a second background waveform, measuring the current and voltage applied to the tissue, computing further electrical characteristics, dynamically adjusting circuit components to ensure a desirable waveform applied to the tissue, and displaying measured and computed electrical characteristics of the tissue. The object is improved positioning of a needle tip near a nerve or nerve plexus for regional anesthesia, pain management, and other medical purposes.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A device for improved nerve stimulation via a percutaneous insulated needle for the performance of therapeutic interventions targeting nerves within living tissue, comprising:
-
a needle electrode which is configured to be used percutaneously and is insulated except at a tip; a return electrode; a pulse generator; a background waveform generator; a switch electrically connected to the pulse generator and the background waveform generator and configured to connect one of the pulse generator and the background waveform generator at a time to the needle electrode and the return electrode; a pulse conditioning circuit electrically connected in series with an electrical path created through tissue between the needle and the return electrodes when the needle electrode and the return electrode are applied to tissue; sensors electrically connected to the needle electrode and the return electrode and configured to detect electrical characteristics of the waveforms generated by the pulse and background waveform generators; and a controller configured for acquiring user parameter choices, for acquiring real-time measurements of the pulse and waveform, for calculating other waveform characteristics from the measurements, for calculating tissue characteristics from the waveform characteristics, and for adjusting parametric characteristics of the pulse generator, the background waveform generator and the conditioning circuit, to produce a desired waveform across the electrodes and to generate various measured and calculated values for the benefit of a practitioner when the needle electrode is advanced into the tissue; wherein the controller is programmed to adjust the parametric characteristics of the pulse and background waveform generators and the conditioning circuit in order to produce a desirable waveform across the electrodes by sampling the electrical characteristics of the waveforms using the sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A device for improved nerve stimulation via a percutaneous insulated needle for the performance of therapeutic intervention targeting nerves within living tissue, comprising:
-
a needle electrode which is configured to be used percutaneously and is insulated except at a tip; a return electrode; a pulse generator; a background waveform generator; a switch electrically connected to the pulse generator and the background waveform generator and configured to connect one of the pulse generator and the background waveform generator at a time to the needle electrode and the return electrode; a pulse conditioning circuit electrically connected in series with an electrical path created through tissue between the needle and the return electrodes when the needle electrode and the return electrode are applied to tissue; sensors electrically connected to the needle electrode and the return electrode and configured to detect electrical characteristics of the waveforms generated by the pulse and background waveform generators; and a controller configured for acquiring user parameter choices, for acquiring real-time measurements of the pulse and waveform, for calculating other waveform characteristics from the measurements, for calculating tissue characteristics from the waveform characteristics, and for adjusting parametric characteristics of the pulse generator, background waveform generator and the conditioning circuit, to produce a desired waveform across the electrodes and to generate various measured and calculated values for the benefit of a practitioner when the needle electrode is advanced into the tissue, wherein; the controller is programmed to adjust the parametric characteristics of the pulse and background waveform generators and the conditioning circuit in order to produce a desirable waveform across the electrodes by sampling the electrical characteristics of the waveform using the sensors; and the pulse generator maintains an adjustable, specified voltage amplitude level across a varying impedance. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A method of improved nerve stimulation via a percutaneous insulated needle for the performance of therapeutic interventions targeting nerves within living tissue, comprising steps of:
-
attaching a return electrode; inserting a needle electrode percutaneously into tissue, where the needle electrode is insulated from the tissue except at the tip of the electrode; adjusting the characteristics of a pulse conditioning circuit in series with the electrical path between the two electrodes through the tissue; applying a pulse waveform of a specified shape and specified amplitude to the electrodes; measuring an electrical characteristic of the waveform applied to the electrodes; calculating a tissue characteristic based on the measured electrical characteristic of the waveform; and displaying a location of a nerve. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification