Independently-controlled bidirectional nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. Apparatus for stimulating a nerve of a subject, the apparatus being configured to drive first action potentials orthodromically in a first direction along the nerve, and second action potentials orthodromically along the nerve in an opposite direction to the first direction, the apparatus comprising:
- a first excitation unit and a second excitation unit, the excitation units being configured to be placed in a proximity of the nerve of the subject;
a blocking unit disposed between the excitation units and configured to be placeable in a proximity of the nerve of the subject; and
a control unit, configured;
to drive the first excitation unit to apply a first excitatory current to the nerve of the subject,to drive the second excitation unit to apply a second excitatory current to the nerve of the subject, andto drive the blocking unit to apply a blocking current to the nerve of the subject that blocks action potentials that propagate from the first and second excitatory units toward the blocking unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is configured to drive first action potentials orthodromically in a first direction along a nerve of a subject, and second action potentials orthodromically along the nerve in an opposite direction to the first direction. The apparatus includes: (1) first and second excitation units configured to be placed in a proximity of the nerve of the subject; (2) a blocking unit disposed between the excitation units and placeable in a proximity of the nerve of the subject; and (3) a control unit, configured: (i) to drive the first and second excitation units to apply, respectively, first and second excitatory currents to the nerve of the subject, and (ii) to drive the blocking unit to apply a blocking current to the nerve of the subject that blocks action potentials that propagate from the first and second excitatory units toward the blocking unit. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus for stimulating a nerve of a subject, the apparatus being configured to drive first action potentials orthodromically in a first direction along the nerve, and second action potentials orthodromically along the nerve in an opposite direction to the first direction, the apparatus comprising:
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a first excitation unit and a second excitation unit, the excitation units being configured to be placed in a proximity of the nerve of the subject; a blocking unit disposed between the excitation units and configured to be placeable in a proximity of the nerve of the subject; and a control unit, configured; to drive the first excitation unit to apply a first excitatory current to the nerve of the subject, to drive the second excitation unit to apply a second excitatory current to the nerve of the subject, and to drive the blocking unit to apply a blocking current to the nerve of the subject that blocks action potentials that propagate from the first and second excitatory units toward the blocking unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification