ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR THE STIMULATION OF BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

• US 3,727,616 A
• Filed: 06/15/1971
• Issued: 04/17/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Herbert H. Lenzkes
• Original Assignee: Herbert H. Lenzkes
• Inventors: Lenzkes, Herbert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/153,316
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419C,419E,419P,419R,420,421,422,423,2.1A 340/184
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A receiver totally implanted within a living body is inductively coupled by two associated receiving coils to a physically unattached external transmitter which transmits two signals of different frequencies to the receiver via two associated transmitting coils. One of the signals from the transmitter provides the implanted receiver with precise control or stimulating signals which are demodulated and processed in a signal processor network in the receiver and then used by the body for stimulation of a nerve, for example, while the other signal provides the receiver with a continuous wave power signal which is rectified in the receiver to provide a source of electrical operating power for the receiver circuitry without need for an implanted battery.

Claims

1. An electronic system for the stimulation of a biological system in a living body, said system comprising:

a. transmitter means adapted to be operably associated externally of said living body for generating transmitted pulses of radio frequency energy at a first frequency and for additionally generating transmitted signals of continuous wave energy at a second frequency, said pulses of radio frequency energy including digital stimulation signals for stimulating said biological system, said continuous wave energy including power signals for providing operating voltages in said system;

b. said transmitter means including transmitter logic network means for receiving and processing stimulation and power signal information;

c. said transmitter means additionally including first and second analog channel network means operably connected to said transmitter logic network means and responsive thereto, said first analog channel network means generating said pulses of radio frequency energy at said first frequency containing said digital stimulation signals, said second analog channel network means generating said continuous wave energy at said second frequency containing said power signals;

d. said transmitter means further including first and second resonant circuit means operably connected to said first and second analog channel network means, respectively, and responsive thereto, said first resonant circuit means resonant at substantially said first frequency for transmitting said pulses of radio frequency energy containing said digital stimulation signals, and said second resonant means resonant at substantially said second frequency for transmitting said continuous wave energy containing said power signals;

e. receiver means adapted to be operably positioned within said living body for receiving said pulses of radio frequency energy containing said digital stimulation signals at said first frequency and for additionally receiving said continuous wave energy containing said power signals at said second frequency as transmitted from said transmitter means;

f. said receiver means including third and fourth resonant circuit means responsive to said second and first resonant circuit means, respectively, said third resonant circuit means resonant at substantially said second frequency for receiving said transmitted continuous wave energy containing said power signals, and said fourth resonant circuit means resonant at substantially said first frequency for receiving said transmitted pulses of radio frequency energy containing said digital stimulation signals;

g. said receiver means additionally including power supply circuit means operably connected to said third resonant circuit means and responsive to said continuous wave energy containing said power signals received by said third resonant circuit means for providing said operating voltages for said receiver means; and

h. said receiver means further including signal processor network means operably connected to said power supply circuit means and to said fourth resonant circuit means, said signal processor network means responsive to said operating voltages from said power supply circuit means and additionally responsive to said pulses of radio frequency energy containing said digital stimulation signals at said first frequency for providing stimulating signals to said biological system.

2. first switch means coupled to said first oscillator means responsive to said logic network means for combining said radio frequency energy at said first frequency with said digital stimulation signals, and

3. The electronic system defined in claim 1, wherein said first analog channel network means comprises oscillator means for generating said radio frequency energy at said first frequency, switch means coupled to said oscillator means responsive to said transmitter logic network means for combining said radio frequency energy at said first frequency with said digital stimulation signals, and amplifier means connected to said switch means for amplifying signals received through said switch means.

4. The electronic system defined in claim 1, wherein said second analog channel network means comprises oscillator means for generating said continuous wave energy at said second frequency, switch means coupled to said oscillator means responsive to said transmitter logic network means for combining said continuous wave energy at said second frequency with said power signals, and amplifier means connected to said switch means for amplifying signals received through said switch means.

5. The electronic system defined in claim 1, wherein said signal processor network means includes:

a. a radio frequency demodulator operably connected to said fourth resonant circuit means and responsive thereto;

b. shift register means operably connected to said radio frequency demodulator for receiving a data signal from said radio frequency demodulator and for providing a positive amplitude word, a negative amplitude word and a data completion pulse, said shift register means also operably connected to said power supply circuit means for receiving a memory reset signal therefrom. c. mode logic circuit means operably connected to said radio frequency demodulator and to said shift register means for receiving a clock signal from said radio frequency demodulator and for receiving said data completion pulse from said shift register means, said mode logic circuit means providing a shift register clock also said shift register means and for providing a stimulation inhibit signal;

d. stimulation decoder means operably connected to said radio frequency demodulator and to said mode logic circuit means for receiving a triggering clock signal from said radio frequency demodulator and for receiving said stimulation inhibit signal from said mode logic circuit means, said stimulation decoder means providing mutually exclusive output signals including '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'ON+'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"', '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'ON-'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'OFF'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signals;

e. positive word multiplexer means operably connected to said shift register means and to said stimulation decoder means for receiving and selecting said positive amplitude word from said shift register means and for receiving said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'ON+'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal from said stimulation decoder means;

f. negative word multiplexer means operably connected to said shift register means and to said stimulation decoder means for receiving and selecting said negative amplitude word from said shift register means and for receiving said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'ON-'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal from said stimulation decoder means;

g. negative digital-to-analog converter means operably connected to said negative word multiplexer means and responsive thereto for converting said negatiVe amplitude word to an analog signal;

h. positive digital-to-analog converter means operably connected to said positive word multiplexer means and responsive thereto for converting said positive amplitude word to an analog signal;

i. inverting X4 current amplifier means operably connected to said positive digital-to-analog converter means and responsive thereto for providing an output signal amplified by substantially a factor of four to be compatible with said negative amplitude word;

j. inverting constant current amplifier means operably connected to said inverting X4 current amplifier means and to said negative digital-to-analog converter means and responsive thereto for providing said stimulating signals to said biological system; and

k. shunt circuit means operably connected to said stimulation decoder means and to said power supply circuit means for receiving said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'OFF'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal from said stimulation decoder means and for receiving a safety release signal from said power supply circuit means to provide protection against undesired stimulating signals.

6. The electronic system defined in claim 5, wherein said shunt circuit means comprises interpulse shunt circuit means operably connected to said stimulation decoder means for receiving said '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'OFF'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' signal and safety shunt circuit means operably connected to said power supply circuit means for receiving said safety release signal, said interpulse shunt circuit means and said safety shunt circuit means operably coupled in parallel across said biological system.

7. The electronic system defined in claim 1, wherein said power supply circuit means comprises:

a. full-wave rectifier means operably connected to said third resonant circuit means and responsive thereto for converting said continuous wave energy received from said third resonant circuit means into positive and negative d-c voltages;

b. positive voltage regulator means operably connected to said full-wave rectifier means for receiving said positive d-c voltages from said full-wave rectifier means and for providing regulated positive operating voltages for said receiver means;

c. preset circuit means operably connected to said positive voltage regulator means and responsive thereto for providing a memory preset signal comprising a short duration positive pulse for said receiver means;

d. negative voltage regulator means operably connected to said full-wave rectifier means for receiving said negative d-c voltages from said full-wave rectifier means and for providing regulated negative operating voltages for said receiver means; and

e. safety shunt control circuit means operably connected to said negative voltage regulator means and responsive thereto for providing a safety release signal for said receiver means.

8. A transmitter for generating transmitted pulses of radio frequency energy at a first frequency containing digital stimulation signals for the stimulation of a biological system in a living body and for additionally generating transmitted signals of continuous wave energy at a second frequency containing power signals, said transmitter comprising:

a. logic network for receiving and processing stimulation and power signal information;

b. first and second analog channel network means operably connected to said logic network means and responsive thereto, said first analog channel network means generating said pulses of radio frequency energy at said first frequency containing said digital stimulation signals, said second analog channel network means generating said continuous wave energy at said second frequency containing said power signals, said first analog channel network means including;

9. The transmitter defined in claim 8, wherein said first and second resonant circuit means each comprise in combination a capacitor and an associated inductor, said inductor of said first resonant circuit means being an antenna operable substantially at said first frequency and said inductor of said second resonant circuit means being an antenna operable substantially at said second frequency.