Method and means to improve the effects of electrical cell and neuron stimulation with random stimulation in both location and time

• US 20170007828A1
• Filed: 09/23/2016
• Published: 01/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sergio Lara Pereira Monteiro
• Original Assignee: Sergio Lara Pereira Monteiro
• Inventors: Monteiro, Sergio Lara Pereira
• Granted Patent: US 10,369,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/057 Anchoring means; Means for fixing the head inside the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36182 Direction of the electrical field, e.g. with sleeve around stimulating electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3684 for stimulating the heart at multiple sites of the ventricle or the atrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3686 configured for selecting the electrode configuration on a lead A61N1/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

An electric stimulator for brain, heart, skin and internal organs in animals and plants where the electrodes are distributed on a supporting structure. The supporting structure may be adapted for brain, heart, skin or other internal organs, as for DBS, heart pacemaker, TENS, etc. The invention discloses a plurality of electrodes at the surface of the supporting structure, from which electrically stimulating currents can be injected into the organism. Turning off an electrode while turning on another electrode has the effect of moving the stimulation within the body of the organism from one point to another point, with the same effect but with less spent energy than physically moving the whole electrode support. We call this electrode shifting. Rotational and translational electrode shifting are possible. The invention also discloses random changes of the electrode shifting, and random changes of the stimulation time and of the stimulation duration.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting the location of an electrical stimulation caused by an electrical stimulator configured to be implanted in an animal comprising:

providing a supporting structure configured to be attached to the animal;

providing an electrode supporting structure with a proximal extremity, a distal extremity, a surface and an inner volume;

providing a plurality of pads or electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure;

providing one or more electronic controlling unit which is configured to change the state of some of the electrodes from on to off and/or from off to on at different times or to leave the state of some of the electrodes unchanged,

providing electrically connecting means connecting the electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure to the one or more electronic controlling unit wherein,

the one or more electronic controlling unit is configured for providing a change in the electrodes that are turned on providing electrical stimulation, in such a way that the locus of the electrical stimulation occurs at precise locations along the electrode supporting structure, as electrodes are chosen around the electrode supporting structure, as changing from PAD1 to PAD2, or even more, changing from PAD1 to PAD1 and PAD3 together, or even more, as changing from PAD1 to PAD3, etc., thereby changing the position of application of the electrical stimulation with respect to an intended target tissue of the animal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the location changes of the stimulation locus cause a moving propagating stimulation through the target tissue of the animal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in the position of application of the electrical stimulation is a comprehensive random sequence.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the time elapsed between the initiation of the electrical stimulation from one electrode to another electrode is a comprehensive random time sequence.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the time elapsed between the initiation of the electrical stimulation from one electrode to another electrode is a comprehensive random time sequence that assumes values within a minimum time value and a maximum time value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the duration of the electrical stimulation forms a comprehensive random time sequence.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the duration of the electrical stimulation forms a comprehensive random time sequence that assumes values within a minimum time value and a maximum time value.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in the stimulating electrodes provides a rotating electrical stimulation in such a way that the most recently connected electrodes at the “

on”

state at the surface of the electrode supporting structure and the last disconnected electrodes at the “

off”

state behind, describe a rotation with respect to the intended target tissue of the animal.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in the stimulating electrodes provides a translating electrical stimulation created by the advancing along the electrode supporting structure of the electrodes at the “

on”

state and the electrodes at the “

off”

states behind the “

on”

state.

10. An electrical stimulation apparatus comprising:

an energy storage unit;

a first supporting structure configured to provide fixed attachment to an animal;

an electrode supporting structure fixed on the first supporting structure, with a proximal extremity, a distal extremity, an inner volume and a surface;

a plurality of electrodes located at the surface of the electrode supporting structure, in proximity to a target tissue of the animal;

one or more electronics controlling unit, and devices connecting the plurality of electrodes to the one or more electronics controlling unit;

whereby the one or more electronics controlling unit is capable of selecting which electrodes are stimulating at a given time, changing from electrode1 to electrode2, or even more, changing from electrode1 to electrode1 and electrode3 together, or even more, as changing from electrode1 to electrode3, whereby

the plurality of electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure are turned on and/or off as time passes, causing a change in time of the locus of electrical stimulation such that it is possible to apply the electrical stimulation at a precise depth and at a precise angular orientation with respect to the target tissue, as electrodes further down are selected, and also at any particular direction, as electrodes are chosen around the electrode supporting structure,

whereby the electrical stimulation on the target tissue of the animal changes its location with respect to the target tissue of the animal according to a preassigned rule.

11. The electrical stimulation apparatus of claim 10 where the locus of the electrical stimulation moves on a rotating pattern with respect to the electrode supporting structure.

12. The electrical stimulation apparatus of claim 10 where the change of stimulating electrode is such that the locus of the electrical stimulation moves on a translating pattern with respect to the electrode supporting structure.

13. The electrical stimulation apparatus of claim 10 where the change of stimulating electrode is such that the locus of the electrical stimulation moves on a comprehensive random pattern with respect to the electrode supporting structure.

14. A non-transitory computer program product for use on a computer system for modifying the position of an electrical stimulation of a plurality of cells in an animal, the electrical stimulation provided by a plurality of stimulating electrodes at the surface of an electrode supporting structure, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code, the computer readable program code including:

program code for selecting the digital address associated with the stimulating electrode capable of causing the electrical stimulation at a desired location,

program code for changing the digital address as a function of time to select different stimulating electrodes to be the source of the electrical stimulation at a different location, whereby

the progressive advancement of the stimulating electrodes causes a stimulating propagating wave with symmetry characteristic of the symmetry of the advancement of the stimulating electrodes at the surface of the electrode supporting structure.

15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 14 where the electrical stimulation of the plurality of cells in the animal undergoes a rotational displacement with respect to the electrode supporting structure.

16. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 14 where the electrical stimulation of the plurality of cells in the animal undergoes a translational displacement with respect to the electrode supporting structure.

17. The non-transitory computer program product of claim 14 where the electrical stimulation of the plurality of cells in the animal undergoes a comprehensive random displacement with respect to the electrode supporting structure.