Method and randomized electrical stimulation system for pain relief

• US 4,338,945 A
• Filed: 03/02/1979
• Issued: 07/13/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clinical Engineering Laboratory Limited
• Original Assignee: Clinical Engineering Laboratory Limited
• Inventors: Ikebe, Jun, Kosugi, Yukio, Kumagai, Yoriaki, Takakura, Kintomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/017,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 R, 128/420 A, 128/420 R, 128/421, 128/422, 128/423 R, 128/423 W, 128/1 C, 331/78
• US Class Current: 607/46
• 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

Abstract

System for generating electrical pulses for relieving the pain of the patient comprising a pulse generator and a controller for modulating the parameters of the output pulses of the pulse generator to fluctuate in accordance with the 1/f rule; i.e. the spectral density of the fluctuation varies inversely with the frequency.

Claims

1. An electrical pulse generation system to be used for the stimulation of dorsal column and peripheral nerves, respectively, for pain relief comprising

a pulse generator,

means having output electrodes constituting means adapted to be applied to central and peripheral nerve areas of a patient for automatically continuously randomizing parameters of output pulses of said pulse generator to generate a series of pulses having a specified power spectrum so as to ceaselessly provide fresh sensations to a nervous system through said electrodes.

2. The electrical pulse generation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the series of pulses have a 1/f power spectrum.

3. The electrical pulse generation system as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said controller means comprises a quasi-random generator and a 1/f filter for generating said series of pulses with a 1/f power spectrum so as to ceaselessly provide the fresh sensations to the nervous system.

4. An electrical pulse generation system to be used for the stimulation of dorsal column and peripheral nerves, respectively, for pain relief comprising

a pulse generator,

means having output electrodes constituting means adapted to be applied to central and peripheral nerve areas of a patient for generating a series of pulses of the pulse generator to fluctuate in accordance with the 1/f rule wherein the spectral density of the fluctuation varies inversely with the frequency.

5. An electrical pulse generation system to be used for the stimulation of dorsal column and peripheral nerves, respectively, for pain relief comprising

a pulse generator,

means for providing output pulses of the pulse generator with a sequence of durations, within which the pulse rate is constant, to fluctuate in accordance with the 1/f rule wherein the spectral density of the fluctuation varies inversely with the frequency,

said means having electrode means for applying said sequence of durations to a patient for applying said stimulation of the dorsal column and peripheral nerves.

6. A method for pain relief by stimulation of the dorsal column and peripheral nerves, comprising the steps of

generating continuously randomized parameters comprising a series of pulses having a specified power spectrum so as to ceaselessly provide fresh sensations to a nervous system,

applying said series of pulses to the dorsal column and peripheral nerves.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6, wherein

the series of pulses fluctuate in accordance with the 1/f rule wherein the spectral density of the fluctuation varies inversely with the frequency.