Handheld treatment device

• US 9,446,251 B1
• Filed: 02/05/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Curonix Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Micron Devices LLC
• Inventors: Perryman, Laura Tyler, Greene, Graham Patrick, Andresen, Chad David
• Primary Examiner(s): Evanisko, George
• Application Number:
  US14/615,360
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A handheld treatment device can include a handheld housing; a transmitting antenna located in the handheld housing and configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals to a neural stimulator that is implanted in the patient'"'"'s body; and control circuitry located in the handheld housing and configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna.

Claims

1. A handheld treatment device for facilitating neurophysiological treatment of a patient harboring an implanted neural stimulator, the handheld treatment device comprising:

a handheld housing comprising a bottom portion connected to a top portion having a handle member adapted for holding by a hand of an operator;

a transmitting antenna located in the handheld housing and configured to accept one or more input signals and to transmit one or more electromagnetic signals through non-inductive coupling to a passive neural stimulator that is implantable in the patient'"'"'s body;

control circuitry located in the handheld housing and configured to provide the one or more input signals to the transmitting antenna;

a circuit board; and

a battery;

wherein the bottom portion of the handheld housing comprises;

a bottom surface;

a base housing section segment defining the bottom surface and, on a surface opposite to the bottom surface, defining an antenna recess that provides an indented area on the surface opposite to the bottom surface such that the transmitting antenna is accommodated in the indented area of the antenna recess;

an antenna cover housing section that is arranged in the base housing section such that a first surface of the antenna cover housing is facing the transmitting antenna in the antenna recess; and

wherein the antenna housing section includes a second surface, opposite the first surface of the antenna housing section, that includes a holding space in which the circuit board supporting the control circuitry and the battery are located, the antenna housing section providing electrical isolation between the transmitting antenna and holding space for the circuit board and the battery while the one or more electromagnetic signals are being transmitted non-inductively to the passive neural stimulator.

2. The handheld treatment device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting antenna is a patch antenna, a dipole antenna, spiral antenna or other antenna configuration within a form factor of the handheld treatment device.

3. The handheld treatment device of claim 1, further comprising an inductive charging component configured to receive electromagnetic energy wirelessly from outside the handheld treatment device and through inductive coupling, and to recharge the battery mounted in the bottom portion of the handheld treatment device using the received electromagnetic energy, the inductive charging component and the transmitting antenna located on opposite sides of the battery.

4. The handheld treatment device of claim 1, further comprising a control panel with at least one interface button, the control panel located on the handle member.

5. The handheld treatment device of claim 4, wherein the control panel is located on a surface of the top portion of the handheld treatment device.

6. The handheld treatment device of claim 4, further comprising a cable, wherein the control panel is connected to the control circuitry by the cable, and the cable passes through a hollow portion of the top portion of the handheld treatment device.

7. The handheld treatment device of claim 4, wherein a first interface button of the at least one interface button controls at least one neuro stimulation setting of the control circuitry.

8. The handheld treatment device of claim 7, wherein the at least one neural stimulation setting includes at least one of:

an amplitude setting, a pulse width setting, a frequency setting, and a preset programs setting.

9. The handheld treatment device of claim 7, wherein a second interface button of the at least one interface button controls which neural stimulation setting of the at least one neural stimulation setting is controlled by the first interface button.

10. The handheld treatment device of claim 1, wherein an elongate portion of the handle member is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the bottom portion.

11. The handheld device of claim 10, wherein a primary transmission surface of the transmitting antenna is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the bottom portion.

12. The handheld treatment device of claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of the bottom portion is located between the primary transmission surface of the transmitting antenna and the implanted neural stimulator.

13. The handheld treatment device of claim 1, wherein the battery provides electrical power to at least the control circuitry.

14. The handheld treatment device of claim 13, further comprising at least one charging coil to recharge the battery.

15. The handheld treatment device of claim 14, wherein the recharging coil is configured to receive energy wirelessly from a source external to handheld treatment device and use the energy to recharge the battery.

16. The handheld treatment device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting antenna is configured as a non-loop antenna.