# US 5,983,141 A · Method and apparatus for altering neural tissue function

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- Number: US 5,983,141 A
- Document ID: US5983141A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/671,927
- Filed: 1996-06-27
- Granted: 1999-11-09
- Earliest claimed: 1996-06-27
- Assignees: Radionics, Inc.
- Inventors: Menno E. Sluijter; William J. Rittman, III; Eric R. Cosman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5983141A

## CPC

- A61N 1/36021: {for treatment of pain}
- A61N 1/36017: {with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin}
- A61N 1/403: {for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A method and apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient. An electromagnetic signal is applied to the neural tissue through an electrode. The electromagnetic signal has a frequency component above the physiological stimulation frequency range and an intensity sufficient to produce an alteration of the neural tissue, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain, and a waveform that prevents lethal temperature elevation of the neural tissue during application of the electromagnetic signal to the neural tissue.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for altering a function of neural tissue in a patient comprising:
a) an electrode adapted to apply an amplitude modulated signal to the neural tissue of the patient;
b) a signal generator that generates an amplitude modulated signal having at least one frequency component above a physiological stimulation frequency range, said amplitude modulated signal producing an alteration of a function of the neural tissue while producing an average power deposition in the neural tissue corresponding to non-lethal temperature elevation of said neural tissue when the amplitude modulated signal is applied to the neural tissue through said electrode, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain and being produced at least in part by said at least one frequency component above said physiological stimulation frequency range; and,
c) an electromagnetic coupling between said signal generator and said electrode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a modulation amplitude control that adjusts the amplitude of the signal modulation; and,
a duty cycle control that adjusts a ratio of signal ON time to signal OFF time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amplitude modulated signal has a peak voltage in the range of 10-30 volts with a waveform having a total period of one second with an ON time in the range of 10-30 milliseconds and a corresponding OFF time of 990-970 milliseconds.

### Claim 4

A method of altering a function of neural tissue in a patient, comprising:
a) by an electrode, applying an amplitude modulated signal to the neural tissue of the patient;
b) by a signal generator, generating an amplitude modulated signal having at least one frequency component above a physiological stimulation frequency range, said amplitude modulated signal producing an alteration of a function of the neural tissue while producing an average power deposition in the neural tissue corresponding to non-lethal temperature elevation of said neural tissue when the amplitude modulated signal is applied to the neural tissue through said electrode, the alteration causing the patient to experience a reduction in pain and being produced at least in part by said at least one frequency component above said physiological stimulation frequency range; and
c) electromagnetically coupling said signal generator to said electrode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising:
by a modulation amplitude control, adjusting the amplitude of the signal modulation; and,
by a duty cycle control, adjusting a ratio of signal ON time to signal OFF time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the amplitude modulated signal has a peak voltage in the range of 10-30 volts with a waveform having a total period of one second with an ON time in the range of 10-30 milliseconds and a corresponding OFF time of 990-970 milliseconds.