US 6,035,237 A · Implantable stimulator that prevents DC current flow without the use of discrete output coupling capacitors

Abstract

An implantable living tissue stimulator avoids the use of conventional coupling capacitors in its output stage, yet still prevents an average dc current flow from flowing through living tissue in electrical contact with the stimulator. The output stage generates and applies a biphasic stimulating current pulse to selected paired output terminals. The terminals, in turn, are electrically connected to respective electrodes which are positioned so as to contact the living tissue to be stimulated. In one embodiment, special circuitry is employed within the output stage to block dc current flow through the living tissue and to balance the electrical charge that is delivered to the living tissue. In another embodiment, the electrodes themselves are made from a material that allows them to function as a capacitor. In yet an additional embodiment, the coupling capacitors are integrated into the leads that connect the output terminals of the output stage with the electrodes.

Claims38

Dependent claims

An implantable living tissue stimulator comprising:

a case having a plurality of feed-through terminals;
first circuit means inside of the case for generating a stimulating current pulse;
and
second circuit means within the case for providing an electrical current path between the first circuit means and a selected pair of the plurality of feed-through terminals through which the stimulating current pulse must pass, and for blocking dc current flow through the electrical current path;
said second circuit means comprising a plurality of circuit elements that do not include a coupling capacitor and do not include a coupling transformer in the electrical current path.

2 more elements

An implantable living tissue stimulator comprising:

biphasic current pulse generator means for generating a series of biphasic current pulses;
output circuit means for receiving a biphasic current pulse generated by the biphasic current pulse generator means and directing such biphasic current pulse along an electrical current path to a selected pair of a plurality of output terminals;
an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes, each electrode of said plurality of electrodes being connected to one of the plurality of output terminals, a selected pair of said plurality of electrodes thereby having the biphasic current pulse applied thereto;
and
means for preventing dc current flow, without output coupling capacitors or output coupling transformers, through the selected pair of said plurality of electrodes of said electrode array.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Implantable stimulator that prevents DC current flow without the use of discrete output coupling capacitors

Life of this patent

Implantable stimulator that prevents DC current flow without the use of discrete output coupling capacitors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38