Nerve stimulation system with programmed pulse charge attenuation
First Claim
1. A nerve stimulation system configured to position an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the system comprising:
- an operator interface including an operator input;
a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse output waveform at an output terminal, wherein the pulse output waveform comprises pulses, each pulse having a pulse charge comprising a function of a first variable parameter and a second variable parameter, the variable parameters comprising pulse current amplitude and pulse width;
a controller operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface; and
an administration needle configured for administration of an anesthetic, the administration needle operatively connected to the output terminal;
wherein the operator input is configured to input signals to the controller and incrementally reduce the value of the first variable parameter and the controller is programmed to reduce the value of the second variable parameter as a function of incrementally set values of the first variable parameter.
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Abstract
A processor implemented nerve stimulation system for regional anesthesia administration varies pulse width as a programmed function of applied current or varies applied current as a function of adjusted pulse width. The system also provides a waveform of repeating cycles of different pulse width components separated within the waveform frequency and which may be simultaneously attenuated as a function of applied current within an attenuation range. Among possible functional relationships between pulse width and applied current within an attenuation range is the exponential reduction of pulse width as a function of applied current.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A nerve stimulation system configured to position an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the system comprising:
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an operator interface including an operator input; a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse output waveform at an output terminal, wherein the pulse output waveform comprises pulses, each pulse having a pulse charge comprising a function of a first variable parameter and a second variable parameter, the variable parameters comprising pulse current amplitude and pulse width; a controller operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface; and an administration needle configured for administration of an anesthetic, the administration needle operatively connected to the output terminal; wherein the operator input is configured to input signals to the controller and incrementally reduce the value of the first variable parameter and the controller is programmed to reduce the value of the second variable parameter as a function of incrementally set values of the first variable parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A nerve stimulation system configured to administer regional anesthesia proximate a target nerve, the stimulation system comprising:
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an operator interface; a pulse generator configured to generate a pulse output waveform at an output terminal; a controller operatively connected to the pulse generator and the operator interface; and an administration needle configured to administer an anesthetic, the administration needle operatively connected to the output terminal; wherein the pulse output waveform comprises repeating cycles of three different pulse width components of equal pulse current amplitude separated by ⅓
of the waveform frequency and the operator interface is configured to input a signal to the controller to simultaneously vary the pulse current amplitude of each pulse width component. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of programming a controller of a nerve stimulation system having a pulse generator which generates a pulse waveform output and an operator interface, the pulse waveform comprising pulses, each pulse having a pulse current amplitude and a pulse width, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) operatively connecting an administration needle to the pulse generator, b) introducing the administration needle into a subject at a location anatomically positioned for locating a target nerve to elicit stimulation of the target nerve, c) advancing the administration needle toward the target nerve while incrementally reducing the pulse current amplitude, d) reducing the pulse width to maintain stimulation while performing step c), e) observing and noting values of pulse current amplitude and pulse width necessary to maintain stimulation of the target nerve while performing steps c) and d), and f) programming the controller with a transfer function of pulse current amplitude versus pulse width which correlates to the noted values. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification