Nerve fiber stimulation using plural equally active electrodes
US4803988A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 1987 |
| Grant date | Feb 14, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36021
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Nerve fiber stimulation is disclosed to substantially increase the activity of the then selected nerve fibers, with optimization being achieved through utilization of electrical pulses that are caused to occur in a predetermined pattern with respect to polarity, spacing, frequency and duration so as to interact with the electroneurophysiological characteristics of the particular nerve fibers then to be electrically stimulated. Bi-phased pulse pairs are repeatedly generated and applied to the nerve fibers to be stimulated through plural active electrodes with the first pulse of each applied pulse pair being a positive polarity pulse causing the nerve to be set into the refractory period, while the second pulse of each applied pulse pair is a negative polarity pulse that is made to occur substantially at the end of the refractory period for the particular nerve fibers then being stimulated to thereby excite those nerve fibers, and the pulse pairs are repeated at a rate based upon the timewise occurrence of the enhanced excitability condition of the nerve fibers then being stimulated. By stimulation of each of a plurality of electrodes using positive/negative pulse pairs, all electrod…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.