Implantable medical stimulation apparatus with intra-conductor capacitive energy storage

• US 20060217767A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenergy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kenergy, Inc.
• Inventors: Bulkes, Cherik
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37516 Intravascular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

An implantable device electrically stimulates an organ of an animal in response to a trigger event. Between trigger event that device receives a wireless signal, such as a radio frequency signal, and stores energy from the signal in a plurality of capacitors. The capacitors are located within a electrical lead that extends to a stimulation electrode attached to the organ. That electrical lead has a hollow outer insulating tube with a pair of conductors extending longitudinally therein. The plurality of capacitors are connected between the pair of conductors. Thus the electrical lead serves as both a conductor of a stimulation current to the electrode and a housing for the plurality of capacitors.

Claims

1. An apparatus for artificially stimulating an organ of an animal, said apparatus comprising:

a first electrode and a second electrode for implantation into the animal;

an electrical lead having a first conductor, a second conductor and a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second conductors;

an element for receiving wireless signals; and

a stimulation circuit connected to the first electrode, the first conductor, the second conductor and the element, the stimulation circuit using energy from a received first wireless signal to charge the plurality of capacitors with electrical energy, and responding to a trigger event by applying the electrical energy stored in the plurality of capacitors to the first electrode and the second electrode to electrically stimulate the organ of the animal.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of capacitors connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of capacitors connected in series between the first and second conductors.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of capacitors are divided into groups with the capacitors in each group connected in series and the groups connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the trigger event is a second wireless signal.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the wireless signals are radio frequency signals.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein the first electrode is connected to the first conductor, and further comprising a switch coupling the second electrode to the second conductor, wherein the stimulation circuit responds to the trigger event by closing the switch.

8. An apparatus for artificially stimulating an organ of an animal, said apparatus comprising:

a first electrode and a second electrode for implantation into the animal;

an electrical lead having a first conductor to which the first electrode is connected, a second conductor and a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second conductors, wherein the second conductor is controllably connected to the second electrode;

an antenna for receiving radio frequency signals; and

a stimulation circuit connected to the first electrode, the first conductor, the second conductor and the antenna, the stimulation circuit using energy from a received first radio frequency signal to charge the plurality of capacitors with electrical energy, and responding to a trigger event by applying the electrical energy stored in the plurality of capacitors to the first electrode and the second electrode to electrically stimulate the organ of the animal.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of capacitors connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of capacitors connected in series between the first and second conductors.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the plurality of capacitors are divided into groups with the capacitors in each group connected in series and the groups connected in parallel between the first and second conductors.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein the trigger event is a second radio frequency signal.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein further comprising a switch coupling the second electrode to the second conductor, wherein the stimulation circuit responds to the trigger event by closing the switch.