NERVE STIMULATION SYSTEM WITH PROGRAMMED PULSE CHARGE ATTENUATION

• US 20070032841A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Urmey
• Original Assignee: William Urmey
• Inventors: Urmey, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A processor implemented nerve stimulation system for regional anesthesia administration varies pulse width as a programmed function of applied current or varies applied current as a function of adjusted pulse width. The system also provides a waveform of repeating cycles of different pulse width components separated within the waveform frequency and which may be simultaneously attenuated as a function of applied current within an attenuation range. Among possible functional relationships between pulse width and applied current within an attenuation range is the exponential reduction of pulse width as a function of applied current.

Claims

1. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the system comprising a controller, a pulse generator and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the pulse generator generating a pulse output waveform, the waveform comprising pulses each pulse having a pulse charge, each pulse charge comprising a function of variable parameters, the variable parameters comprising pulse current amplitude and pulse width, the operator input being engagable to incrementally vary one of the parameters, the controller being programmed to vary the other parameter as a function of the incremental value of the one parameter.

2. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the function is exponential.

3. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the one parameter comprises pulse current amplitude and the other parameter comprises pulse width.

4. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve, as constructed in accordance with claim 3 further including an administration needle, the pulse generator being operatively coupled to the administration needle.

5. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the function has been empirically derived.

6. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 3 wherein the controller maintains constant pulse width over an initial range of incremental pulse current amplitude values and thereafter attenuates pulse width over an attenuation range of reduced incremental pulse current amplitude values.

7. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the waveform comprises a pulse train having repeating cycles of three different pulse width components separated by ⅓

of the waveform frequency, each pulse width component having a pulse charge comprising a function of variable parameters, the variable parameters comprising current amplitude and pulse width, the operator input being engageable to vary the pulse current amplitude parameter of each of the pulse width components, the controller being programmed to vary the pulse width parameter of each of the pulse width components as a function of the incremental value of the pulse amplitude parameter.

10. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to vary the other parameter as a function of the incremental value of the one parameter in one mode of operation, the controller being programmed with multiple modes of operation.

11. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 10 wherein the controller is programmed with a different mode of operation wherein the other parameter remains constant and is not varied as a function of the incremental value of the one parameter.

12. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 10 wherein the controller is programmed with a different mode of operation wherein the pulse generator generates a pulse output waveform comprising repeating cycles of three different pulse width components separated by ⅓

of the waveform frequency and the operator input is engageable to incrementally vary the pulse current amplitude of each of the pulse width components.

13. A method of programming the controller of the nerve stimulation system as constructed in accordance with claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:

i) operatively connecting an administration needle to the pulse generator,

ii) introducing the administration needle into a subject at a location anatomically positioned for locating a target nerve,

iii) linearly advancing the administration needle toward the target nerve while incrementally reducing the pulse current amplitude in a linear manner to elicit stimulation of the target nerve,

iv) reducing the pulse width when necessary maintain stimulation while maintaining the linear relationship between administration needle penetration and pulse current amplitude,

v) noting the observed correlated values of pulse current amplitude and pulse width necessary to maintain stimulation of noting and plotting of the target nerve, and

vi) programming the controller with a transfer function of pulse current amplitude versus pulse width which correlates to the plotted values.

15. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the one parameter comprises pulse width and the other parameter comprises pulse current amplitude.

16. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 15 wherein the controller attenuates pulse current amplitude over an attenuation range of reduced incremental pulse width values.

17. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 6 wherein the controller maintains constant pulse width when current amplitude values are reduced below the attenuation range.

18. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 7 wherein the controller is programmed to simultaneously vary the pulse width parameter of each pulse width component as a function of the incremental value of the pulse amplitude.

8. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve, the stimulation system comprising a controller, a pulse generator and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the pulse generator generating a pulse output waveform, the waveform comprising repeating cycles of three different pulse width components separated by ⅓

of the waveform frequency, at the same pulse current amplitude, the operator interface being engageable to simultaneously vary the pulse current amplitude of each pulse width component.

9. A nerve stimulation system for positioning an administration needle proximate a target nerve as constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the three different pulse width components are progressively smaller in pulse width.

14. A method of programming a controller of nerve stimulation system having a pulse generator which generates a pulse waveform output and an operator interface, the controller being operatively connected to the pulse generator and to the operator interface, the method comprising the steps of:

a) operatively connecting an administration needle to the pulse generator,

b) introducing the administration needle into a subject at a location anatomically positioned for locating a target nerve,

c) linearly advancing the administration needle toward the target nerve while incrementally reducing the pulse current amplitude in a linear manner to elicit stimulation of the target nerve,

d) reducing the pulse width when necessary to maintain stimulation while simultaneously maintaining the linear relationship between administration needle penetration and pulse current amplitude,

e) observing and noting correlated values of pulse current amplitude and pulse width necessary to maintain stimulation of the target nerve, and

f) programming the controller with a transfer function of pulse current amplitude versus pulse width which correlates to the plotted values.