Device And Method For Wireless Microstimulation
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
InventorsAnthony V. Caparso, Richard J. Davis, Malik Kahook, Naresh Mandava
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Abstract
Systems and methods for wireless neural stimulation are presented. A microstimulator comprising a highly magnetic permeable material is implanted in the tissue of a living body. A wearable external controller creates a time-varying magnetic field that extends to the microstimulator in the tissue. The microstimulator re-shapes and boosts the time-varying magnetic field in the area surrounding the microstimulator, causing neural stimulation in the area around the microstimulator. A physician programmer device is also presented that allows a physician to program the wearable external controller.
Claims20
A system for stimulating nerves in a living body, comprising:
- an implantable microstimulator, configured to be positioned at least partially within tissue of the living body, comprising a magnetic focal element which is electrically isolated from the tissue;
- and
- a portable external controller configured to be worn on and external to the living body, comprising a processor, a power source and an inductive coil;
- wherein the processor is configured to control the power source and inductive coil to produce a time-varying magnetic field extending to the implantable microstimulator positioned within the tissue;
- wherein the magnetic focal element is configured to increase the time-varying magnetic field in a space proximate to the magnetic focal element;
- and
- wherein the increased time-varying magnetic field causes an elevated electrical current density in a stimulation area of the tissue proximate to the implantable microstimulator, causing neural stimulation within the stimulation area of the tissue.
A method for stimulating nerves in a living body, comprising:
- producing a time-varying magnetic field from a portable external controller configured to be worn on and external to the living body, the portable external controller comprising a processor, a power source and an inductive coil, the processor being configured to control the power source and inductive coil to produce the time-varying magnetic field, the time-varying magnetic field extending to an implantable microstimulator positioned at least partially within tissue of the living body;
- wherein the implantable microstimulator comprises a magnetic focal element which is electrically isolated from the tissue;
- wherein the magnetic focal element increases the time-varying magnetic field in a space proximate to the magnetic focal element;
- and
- wherein the increased time-varying magnetic field causes an elevated electrical current density in a stimulation area of the tissue proximate to the implantable microstimulator, causing neural stimulation within the stimulation area of the tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.