Neurostimulator

• US 8,626,303 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Original Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents (University of Arizona)
• Inventors: Towe, Bruce, Crisp, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US12/908,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Methods and devices of stimulating nerves are disclosed. In one embodiment adapted for stimulating excitable tissue, the invention includes drive circuitry (12), an acoustic transducer (14) and a pair of electrodes (28).

Claims

1. A receiver-stimulator device comprising:

a plurality of acoustic transducers, each comprising an implanted piezoelectric chip, that receive acoustic energy from an acoustic source and generate acoustic energy to generate an electric current;

a demodulator connected to each transducer receive the electrical signals and rectify the signals to a biologically stimulating electrical output; and

at least two tissue contacting stimulation electrodes coupled to each demodulator which receive the stimulating electrical output and deliver said output to tissue; and

wherein the contributions of the plurality of acoustic transducers are placed in series such the electric output of each transducer is additive.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of transducers are positioned such that a resulting transducer array is substantially symmetrical and annular.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are nerve cuff electrodes disposed around a nerve.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the nerve cuff electrodes stimulate a specific nerve fiber.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the transducers are ultrasound transducers of sub-millimeter size disposed around the circumference of the nerve cuff and each ultrasound transducer is electrically addressed.