Neurostimulation circuit for implementation in a neurostimulation system, apparatus, and method

Abstract

A neurostimulator system for supplying constant current electrical stimulation pulses to at least one stimulation electrode to apply electrical stimulation to a subject includes a power supply comprising a voltage rail and a ground. The system also includes a first constant current circuit configured to supply stimulation current from the voltage rail through the at least one stimulation electrode to ground. A controller is configured to control the constant current circuit. The first constant current circuit includes a first mirror circuit, a first current sink, and a first ground circuit. The first mirror circuit is configured to supply the constant current electrical stimulation pulses from the voltage rail to the at least one electrode. The first current sink is configured to control the constant current electrical stimulation pulses supplied to the at least one electrode from the mirror circuit in response to a first control voltage. The first ground circuit is configured to control a path to ground from the at least one stimulation electrode in response to a first ground control signal from the controller. The controller is configured to control the first control voltage to produce the constant current electrical stimulation pulses and to control the first ground control signal to establish the path to ground so that the constant current electrical stimulation pulses flow through the at least one stimulation electrode in a first direction to apply electrical stimulation to the subject.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.