Neurostimulator

• US 9,457,196 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US14/296,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 for stimulating nerves are disclosed. In one embodiment adapted for stimulating excitable tissue, the invention includes drive circuitry, an acoustic transducer and a pair of electrodes.

Claims

1. An implantable neurostimulator comprising:

a first electrode electrically coupled to a first piezoelectric material;

a second electrode electrically coupled to the first piezoelectric material;

a third electrode electrically coupled to a second piezoelectric material;

a fourth electrode electrically coupled to the second piezoelectric material;

where the first piezoelectric material is configured to provide an electrical potential to biological tissue through the first and second electrodes in response to an ultrasound signal;

where the second piezoelectric material is configured to provide an electrical potential to biological tissue through the third and fourth electrodes in response to an ultrasound signal;

where the first and second piezoelectric materials have different resonant frequencies; and

where the first piezoelectric material is a polymer.

2. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, where the polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF).

3. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, wherein the first and second piezoelectric materials are physically configured to facilitate insertion of the implantable neurostimulator into biological tissue.

4. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 3, where the implantable neurostimulator is capable of being inserted into biological tissue using a 16 gauge needle.

5. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, where the first and second piezoelectric materials are mechanically coupled.

6. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, where the first piezoelectric material is made of a different composition than the second piezoelectric material.

7. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, where the first and second piezoelectric materials have resonant frequencies that are sufficiently dissimilar such that when the implantable neurostimulator is subjected to an ultrasound signal having a frequency equal to the resonant frequency of the first piezoelectric material, the second piezoelectric material does not create a significant electrical potential.

8. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 7, further comprising a third piezoelectric material having a resonant frequency different from the first and second piezoelectric materials.

9. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, further comprising a third piezoelectric material electrically connected in series with the first piezoelectric material, where the third piezoelectric material has a resonant frequency having substantially the same as the resonant frequency as the first piezoelectric material.

10. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 9, further comprising a fourth piezoelectric material electrically connected in series with the second piezoelectric material, where the fourth piezoelectric material has a resonant frequency substantially the same as the resonant frequency of the second piezoelectric material.

11. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, where the second piezoelectric material is a ceramic.

12. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 11, where the ceramic is lead zirconate titanate (PZT).

13. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 11, where the ceramic is lithium nobate.

14. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 11, where the ceramic is lead metaniobate.

15. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 11, where the ceramic is lead titanate.

16. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 1, where the second piezoelectric material is a crystal.

17. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 16, where the crystal is quartz.

18. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 16, where the crystal is tourmaline.