US 2003/0199782 A1 · Apparatus and method for stimulating human tissue

Abstract

A system and method for stimulating human tissue using a master controller and a slave controller that communicate using high level commands. In one embodiment, a system of the invention includes a master controller, a slave controller in signal communication with and electrically isolated from the master controller, and a stimulation circuit in electrical communication with the slave controller and having a stimulation output capable of providing an electrical stimulation to the human tissue. The master controller communicates at least one command comprising at least one parameter to the slave controller, and the slave controller controls said stimulation circuit to stimulate human tissue in response to the command comprising at least one parameter.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for stimulating human tissue, comprising:

a) a master controller;
b) a slave controller in signal communication with and electrically isolated from said master controller;
and
c) a stimulation circuit in electrical communication with said slave controller and having a stimulation output capable of providing an electrical stimulation to said human tissue;
whereby said master controller communicates at least one command comprising at least one parameter to said slave controller and whereby said slave controller controls said stimulation circuit to stimulate said human tissue in response to said at least one command comprising said at least one parameter.

2 more elements

An apparatus for stimulating human tissue, comprising:

a) a controller having a plurality of input terminals and at least one output terminal;
b) a stimulation circuit having a plurality of input terminals in electrical communication with said at least one output terminal of said controller, and having at least one stimulation output terminal, said stimulation circuit comprising:
(i) a high voltage generator having an input terminal which is one of said plurality of input terminals of said stimulation circuit and having a high voltage output terminal;
(ii) a current stimulator having a plurality of input terminals, at least one of said plurality of input terminals in communication with said output of said high voltage generator, said current stimulator having an output terminal which is said stimulation circuit output terminal and is capable of providing a current waveform to human tissue;
(iii) an amplitude control circuit having an input terminal which is one of said plurality of input terminals of said stimulation circuit and an amplitude control output terminal in electrical communication with at least one of said input terminals of said current stimulator;
(iv) a timing control circuit having an input terminal which is one of said at plurality of input terminals of said stimulation circuit and a timing control output terminal in electrical communication with at least one of said input terminals of said current stimulator;
whereby said controller receives at said at least one input terminal at least one command comprising at least one parameter and transmits a signal to the input terminal of said stimulation circuit to stimulate said human tissue in response to said at least one command comprising at least one parameter.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/341,991Filed 14 Jan 2003

Priority

1 Dec 1998

Published

23 Oct 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A61B 5/1106
Induced by stimuli or drugs: to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
A61B 5/388
Modalities, i.e. specific diagnostic methods: nerve conduction study, e.g. detecting action potential of peripheral nerves
A61B 5/4041
For evaluating the peripheral nervous systems: evaluating nerves condition
A61B 5/053
Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves:…

Family

Application09/204,032Continuation in part · filed 1 Dec 1998

Application09/261,402Continuation · filed 3 Mar 1999

Application09/261,402Continuation in part · filed 3 Mar 1999

Application10/341,991Continuation · filed 14 Jan 2003

US 6,266,558 B1Related patent

US 6,507,755 B1Related patent

US 2003/0199782 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Apparatus and method for stimulating human tissue

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for stimulating human tissue

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22