Programmable body stimulation system

Abstract

A body stimulation system including external components for generating and transmitting programming signals and implantable components including a signal generator with at least one alterable operating characteristic, a stimulation signal delivering system and circuit responsive to receive programming signals for establishing the operating characteristic in predetermined correspondence therewith. The stimulation signal delivering system is connected to the operating characteristic establishing circuitry for receiving the programming signals. In a preferred embodiment, the external components are prevented from transmitting programming signals during a stimulation signal and, more preferably, for a predetermined period following a stimulation signal. The predetermined period may be established such that the external system is activated during the refractory period of the tissue being stimulated. The external system may provide a programming signal and a second signal having characteristics discriminable from the characteristics of the programming signal such that the operating characteristic establishing circuitry is responsive to a received programming signal only during the occurrence of the second signal. The pulse generator of the implantable unit may also respond to the second signal to operate at a fixed rate during the second signal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.