Pulsed signal generator for bioelectric stimulation and healing acceleration
AssigneeHealthonics, Inc.
InventorJames W. Kronberg
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Abstract
A pulsed signal generator for biomedical applications, including electrical stimulation of fracture healing, treatment of osteoporosis, strengthening of freshly-healed bone after removal of a cast or other fixation device, and iontophoresis. The generator includes dual asymmetric oscillators and associated circuitry to deliver signals efficiently throughout the area to be treated. The components of the generator are selected so as to produce any desired output signal, including fixed and variable amplitude, fixed, variable, and swept frequency signals, and optional DC biasing. The pulse frequency and/or interval can be fixed or adjustable. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the generator is powered by readily-available, inexpensive batteries.
Claims28
A device for generating a pulsed electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said device comprising:
- first means for producing asymmetric oscillations, said first oscillator means producing a logic signal having first oscillations when said device is in electrical connection with a power source;
- second means for producing asymmetric oscillations, said second oscillator means producing second oscillations when said device is in electrical connection with a power source;
- circuit means for combining said first and second oscillations to produce an output waveform, said circuit means operating to switch said second oscillator “on” or “off” depending on a state of said logic signal;
- output means for transmitting said output waveform to electrodes for stimulating biological tissue;
- and
- means for adjusting a frequency of said output waveform, said frequency-adjusting means electrically connected to said output means, said frequency-adjusting means varying said frequency in approximately logarithmic fashion.
A device for generating a pulsed electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said device comprising:
- a first asymmetric oscillator, said first oscillator producing a first output signal having a first frequency when said device is in electrical connection with a power source;
- a second asymmetric oscillator, said second oscillator producing a second output signal having a second frequency when said device is in electrical connection with said power source, said second frequency being higher than said first frequency, at least one of said first and second oscillators including
- a first signal inverter having an output,
- a second signal inverter having an input driven by said output of said first signal inverter,
- an asymmetric resistive circuit coupling said output of said first signal inverter to an isolated signal node,
- at least one capacitor coupling an output of said second signal inverter to said isolated signal node, and
- at least one resistor coupling said isolated signal node to an input of said first signal inverter;
- means for combining said first and second output signals to produce an AC waveform;
- means for adding a selected DC bias voltage to said AC waveform to produce an output waveform, and
- means for transmitting said output waveform to electrodes for stimulating biological tissue.
A device for generating a pulsed electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said device comprising:
- first means for producing asymmetric oscillations, said first oscillator means producing a logic signal having first oscillations when said device is in electrical connection with a power source;
- second means for producing asymmetric oscillations, said second oscillator means producing second oscillations when said device is in electrical connection with a power source;
- circuit means for combining said first and second oscillations to produce an output waveform, said circuit means operating to switch said second oscillator “on” or “off” depending on a state of said logic signal;
- output means for transmitting said output waveform to electrodes for stimulating biological tissue;
- and
- means for adding a DC signal to said output waveform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.