System and method for transmission of electrical signals in imperfectly-conducting media

A system for providing electrical stimulation to an imperfectly-conducting body comprising:

• a transmitter station, the transmitter station comprising:
• a transmitter electrode configured to be in direct contact with the imperfectly-conducting body, and
• a transmitter, coupled to the transmitter electrode and configured to produce a transmitter signal having a frequency spectrum that does not directly cause stimulation of muscle tissue within the imperfectly-conducting body and to cause a current to flow through the imperfectly-conducting body via the transmitter electrode, wherein the current generates an electric field in the imperfectly-conducting body, wherein the electric field transmits the transmitter signal within and through the imperfectly-conducting body without directly stimulating muscle tissue within the imperfectly-conducting body;
• a receiver station, the receiver station comprising:
• a receiver comprising a pulse generator configured to produce, in response to receipt of the transmitter signal through the imperfectly-conducting body from the transmitter, a muscle tissue stimulating waveform in a frequency spectrum that causes stimulation of muscle tissue within the imperfectly-conducting body and to cause electrical current corresponding to the muscle tissue stimulating waveform to flow from the pulse generator to a stimulation electrode,
• a receiver electrode coupled to the receiver and configured to couple the receiver to the transmitter, the receiver electrode responsive to the electric field in the imperfectly-conducting body, and
• a stimulation electrode, coupled to the pulse generator and configured to deliver the electric current corresponding to the muscle tissue stimulating waveform to the imperfectly-conducting body;
• wherein the receiver electrode has less impedance for electrical conduction to the imperfectly-conducting body at the frequency of the transmitter signal than the stimulation electrode has at the frequency of the stimulation waveform, and wherein the receiver electrode presents a different and greater effective surface area for electrical conduction for the transmitter signal than the stimulation electrode presents for the stimulation waveform.