Distributed functional electrical stimulation system

• US 20030171785A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 09/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neopraxis Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Neopraxis Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Milijasevic, Zoran, Duncan, Michael, Bruinsma, Ian, Barriskill, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,287 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system 10 includes an implantable stimulator unit 12 for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient'"'"'s body 14. A transmitter 20 is arranged externally of the patient'"'"'s body 14 for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit 12. A controller 16 is in communication with the transmitter 20. At least one implantable switching node 26 has an input terminal 30 in electrical communication with the stimulator unit 12 and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node 26 and a stimulating element 24 is connected. The switching node 26 including addressing circuitry 44 for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal 30 of the switching node 26 in response to a control signal received from the controller 16 via the stimulator unit 12.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system which includes:

an implantable stimulator unit for stimulating a plurality of different sites in a patient'"'"'s body;

a transmitter arranged externally of the patient'"'"'s body for supplying signals transcutaneously to the stimulator unit;

a controller in communication with the transmitter; and

at least one implantable switching node having an input terminal in electrical communication with the stimulator unit and a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node and a stimulating element is connected, the switching node including an addressing means for switching at least one output terminal into electrical connection with the input terminal of the switching node in response to a control signal received from the controller via the stimulator unit.

2. The system of claim 1 which has a switching node (referred to as a site switching node) associated with each site.

3. The system of claim 2 in which intermediate switching nodes are arranged intermediate the stimulator unit and the site switching nodes.

4. The system of claim 3 in which a single lead extends from the stimulator unit to each of one of the site switching nodes and the intermediate switching nodes.

5. The system of claim 3 in which a multiplicity of leads extends from each site switching node, each lead terminating in at least one of the stimulating elements.

6. The system of claim 3 in which the addressing means includes a switch element having the output terminals.

7. The system of claim 6 in which the switch element includes a switch member that connects a selected output terminal to the input terminal of the switching node.

8. The system of claim 7 in which the addressing means includes control logic for controlling operation of the switch element under control of the controller.

9. The system of claim 8 in which the control logic receives control commands via the control signal received from the controller via the stimulator unit.

10. The system of claim 9 in which the control signal is a composite control signal and includes switching data relating to an output terminal to be selected and stimulation data for the stimulating element connected to the selected output terminal.

11. The system of claim 10 in which, where an intermediate switching node is connected to the selected output terminal, the composite control signal includes switching data for the output terminal of each switching node which is to be selected.

12. The system of claim 7 in which one of the output terminals is a non-stimulation terminal and, in a rest condition the switch member is connected to the non-stimulation output terminal.

13. The system of claim 12 in which a further output terminal is a “

status”

terminal which, when the switch member is connected thereto enables the condition of the switching node to be determined.

14. The system of claim 1 in which each switching node includes a power supply means for supplying power to the addressing means, the power supply means being chargeable by a power component of the control signal.

15. The system claim 1 in which each stimulating element serves as a sensing element for sensing activity at the site at which it is located.

16. A switching node for use in a multi-purpose, functional electrical stimulation (FES) system, the switching node including:

an input terminal for receiving command signals from an implantable stimulator unit of the system;

a plurality of output terminals to each of which one of a further switching node and a stimulating element is connectable; and

an addressing means for addressing the output terminals for connecting at least one of said output terminals to the input terminal upon receipt of an appropriate signal from the stimulator unit, in use, to enable an output signal to be output from that output terminal.

17. The switching node of claim 16 in which the addressing means includes a switch element having the output terminals.

18. The switching node of claim 17 in which the switch element includes a switch member for connecting a selected output terminal to the input terminal.

19. The switching node of claim 18 in which the addressing means includes control logic for controlling operation of the switch element under control of the controller.

20. The switching node of claim 19 in which the control logic receives control commands via a control signal received from the controller via the stimulator unit.

21. The switching node of claim 20 in which the control signal is a composite control signal and includes switching data relating to an output terminal to be selected and stimulation data for a stimulating element connected to the selected output terminal.

22. The switching node of claim 21 in which, where an intermediate switching node is connected to the selected output terminal, the composite control signal includes switching data for the output terminal of each switching node which is to be selected.

23. The switching node claim 18 in which one of the output terminals is a non-stimulation terminal and, in a rest condition the switch member is connected to the non-stimulation output terminal.

24. The switching node of claim 23 in which a further output terminal is a “

status”

terminal which, when the switch member is connected thereto enables the condition of the switching node to be determined.

25. The switching node of claim 16 which includes a power supply means for supplying power to the addressing means, the power supply means being chargeable by a power component of the control signal.