WO2001019453A1 - Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse mettant en application des impulsions d'energie constantes - Google Patents

Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse mettant en application des impulsions d'energie constantes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001019453A1
WO2001019453A1 PCT/ZA1999/000091 ZA9900091W WO0119453A1 WO 2001019453 A1 WO2001019453 A1 WO 2001019453A1 ZA 9900091 W ZA9900091 W ZA 9900091W WO 0119453 A1 WO0119453 A1 WO 0119453A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
nerve stimulation
stimulation device
terminals
voltage
energy
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ZA1999/000091
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stevaun Coetzee
Original Assignee
Gideon Medical Enterprises (Pty) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gideon Medical Enterprises (Pty) Limited filed Critical Gideon Medical Enterprises (Pty) Limited
Priority to AU62998/99A priority Critical patent/AU6299899A/en
Priority to PCT/ZA1999/000091 priority patent/WO2001019453A1/fr
Publication of WO2001019453A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001019453A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/36014—External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes
    • A61N1/3603—Control systems
    • A61N1/36034—Control systems specified by the stimulation parameters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
    • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
    • A61N1/36—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents for stimulation
    • A61N1/372—Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
    • A61N1/378—Electrical supply

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a nerve stimulation device and, more specifically, to the generation of constant energy pulses by such a device which may be used in a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) apparatus or in a passive exercise unit.
  • TENS Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
  • the output from a TENS apparatus is either not controlled at all or has either a constant voltage or constant current output.
  • using a constant voltage output may result in changes in the effect of the apparatus meaning that if, for example, the contact resistance of the electrodes is decreased due to a user leaning back against a chair, this may cause an effect ranging from slight discomfort to severe muscle spasms.
  • using a constant current output may result in current burn should the electrodes become even slightly detached.
  • conventional nerve stimulation apparatus are generally not used over prolonged periods of time thereby to avoid any negative side effects such as muscle spasms and electrolysis.
  • the applicant therefore believes that a need exists for a nerve stimulation device for pain relief which is safe to use over prolonged periods of time, which can be adjusted according to each subject's specific needs and which is comfortable to use as well as being portable .
  • the applicant further believes that it would be advantageous to produce a nerve stimulation device which may be used to relieve pain and which may alternatively be used as a passive exercising device.
  • a nerve stimulation device which includes :- an electric energy source; and a control means arranged in electrical communication with the electric energy source to allow substantially constant amounts of energy to be released or discharged periodically from the electric energy source via or between a pair of terminals independently of a resistance across or between said terminals.
  • the nerve stimulation device may include a plurality of control means to permit independent supplying of substantially constant amounts of energy to a plurality of pairs of terminals and wherein the energy supplied via each pair of terminals may be variable according to a user's requirements.
  • the electric energy source may preferably be a DC energy source, typically a battery having a voltage range of between 1 ,5V and 12V, preferably between 2 and 3,1 V, typically 3 V.
  • the amount of current supplied by the battery may be between 5 mA and 25 mA depending on the amount of energy drawn by the user .
  • the electric energy source may also be a 9 V battery or have a suitable multiplier circuit to imitate such a battery, in which case the amount of current supplied by the battery may be between 1 mA and 30 mA depending on the amount of energy drawn by the user .
  • the control means may include a voltage control means for maintaining a desired, substantially constant change in voltage across a capacitor or terminals over a predetermined period of time, the amplitude of the change in voltage across the capacitor or terminals being variable according to the resistance across or between the terminals to permit energy pulses supplied by the nerve stimulation device are of a substantially constant magnitude .
  • the voltage control means may include an energy storage means, preferably a capacitor, and a switching means for regulating the time period for which the capacitor is allowed to charge and discharge.
  • the capacitance of the capacitor may be between 10 and 100 ⁇ F, preferably 22 ⁇ F.
  • the charging of the capacitor, and hence the capacitor voltage may be variable according to the resistance across the terminals to enable constant amounts of energy to be released therefrom, thereby to permit self-regulation in a manner corresponding to a feedback system.
  • the capacitor voltage for every energy pulse supplied may be determined by a microprocessor.
  • the control means may further include a switching means which may include an input and output transistor arranged in communication with a timer of the microprocessor.
  • the timer may serve to regulate the magnitude of the change in the potential difference across the capacitor and hence the maintenance of the desired determined potential difference across the terminals by controlling the switching time periods of the switching means, the desired potential difference being such that the energy pulses supplied by the nerve stimulation device are of a substantially constant magnitude.
  • this period of time may be a predetermined variable value between 0 and 10 ms.
  • the output transistor typically an NPN or FET transistor may also serve to permit a discharge of pulsed DC to flow from the energy storage means to a voltage step up transformer that is connected to the terminals and which steps up the potential difference between said terminals in a desired ratio. This ratio is typically 10 when using a 3 V electric energy source.
  • the input transistor is typically a PNP transistor.
  • the transformer may be connected to the terminals, preferably in the form of a pair of electrodes.
  • the set of electrodes are typically conventional electrodes which may be connected to a user.
  • the transformer's output is typically in the form of pulses, each pulse containing the same amount of electrical energy.
  • the pulse frequency may be between 70 and 120Hz, preferably 80Hz.
  • the output current of the transformer is between 0,01 and 100 mA, depending on the user's specific energy requirements at the time.
  • the transformer may be configured in such a way as to inhibit energy above a certain amount to pass through it by becoming saturated.
  • the transformer may serve to permit galvanic isolation of the user.
  • the nerve stimulation device may have zero direct current offset due to the transformer only being capable of delivering alternating current .
  • the period of time that the input transistor is in a closed position may be determined by the microprocessor in accordance with the user's desired energy requirements.
  • the period of time that the output transistor is in a closed position is determined by the microprocessor .
  • this period of time may be a set value of between 0,01 to 0,1 ms, but preferably 0,02 ms.
  • a key pad and display means forming a control panel may be provided to enable the user to control the energy to be supplied.
  • the display means may include a visual and/ or audible alerting means for alerting the user should the voltage in the nerve stimulation device increase above acceptable levels, or should one of the electrodes become disconnected or the capacitor discharge fully so as to alert the user of a potentially hazardous condition.
  • the alerting means may typically be in the form of randomly chosen codes which are displayed on the display means such as ⁇ ' to indicate that one of the electrodes has become disconnected, "E 2 " to indicate an electrical short in the device's circuitry and so forth .
  • the nerve stimulation device may be operable in one of three modes, namely continuous, pulse or passive exercise. Typically, the nerve stimulation device stimulates sensory nerves when operating in the continuous or pulse mode and motor nerves when operating in the passive exercise mode.
  • the nerve stimulation device may include a wave form generator capable of generating a wave form including a sequence of pulses having parameters as follows : a repetition rate of 70 to 120 Hz, a pulse width of 0,01 to 0,1 ms, a pulse decay which is stepped, an amplitude of between 0 and 80 volts with no DC offset, and an output current of 0,01 to 100 mA and a control means arranged in communication with the wave form generator for varying any one or combinations of the parameters.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a nerve stimulation device in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of a control panel of a nerve stimulation device having two separately controlled pairs of electrodes
  • FIG 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of a nerve stimulation device in accordance with the invention
  • Figures 4 ⁇ nd 5 are time domain representations of various wave forms generated byihe nerve stimulation device.
  • Figure 6 is a strength-duration curve for sensory, motor and noxious nerve responses.
  • the nerve stimulation device 10 includes an electric energy source in the form of a battery 12 and a control means 14 in the form of a microprocessor 16 and a circuit 18 arranged in electrical communication with the battery 12 to allow substantially constant amounts of energy to be released or discharged periodically to a user via a pair of terminals in the form of electrodes 20a and 20b independently of a resistance between the electrodes 20a and 20b. It is to be appreciated however, that a plurality of independently controlled and isolated circuits may be provided to permit more than one area of a user to be stimulated at the same time.
  • the control means 14 further includes a voltage control means which is typically part of the microprocessor 16 for maintaining a desired, substantially constant change in voltage across an energy storage means in the form of a capacitor 22 and a switching means in the form of input (PNP) and output (NPN or FET) transistors 24 and 26 respectively for regulating the time period over which the capacitor 22 is allowed to charge and discharge.
  • a voltage control means which is typically part of the microprocessor 16 for maintaining a desired, substantially constant change in voltage across an energy storage means in the form of a capacitor 22 and a switching means in the form of input (PNP) and output (NPN or FET) transistors 24 and 26 respectively for regulating the time period over which the capacitor 22 is allowed to charge and discharge.
  • the input 24 and output transistor 26 are arranged in communication with a timer (not shown) of the microprocessor 16 for controlling the opening and/ or closing of the transistors 24 and 26 thereby to control the time periods for which the capacitor 22 is allowed to charge and discharge .
  • the timer serves to regulate the magnitude of the change in the potential difference across the capacitor 22 and hence the maintenance of a desired calculated potential difference across the terminals 20a and 20b by controlling the switching time periods of the transistors 24 and 26, the desired potential difference being such that the energy pulses supplied are of a substantially constant magnitude.
  • the period of time that the input transistor 24 is in a closed position is determined by the microprocessor 16 in accordance with the user's desired energy requirements.
  • the microprocessor 16 also determines the period of time for which the output transistor 26 is in a closed or open position.
  • the charging of the capacitor 22, and hence the capacitor voltage, is variable according to the resistance across the terminals 20a and 20b to enable constant amounts of energy to be released therefrom, thereby to permit self-regulation in a manner corresponding to a feedback system.
  • the capacitor 22 voltage for every energy pulse supplied is determined by the microprocessor 16 as embodied in an algorithm, hardware or software.
  • the capacitor 22 voltage (V 2 : see figures 4 and/ or 5 ) determined by the microprocessor 16 is calculated as follows :
  • V 2 ( V 1 2 + k) 0 ' 5
  • V 2 is the capacitor 22 voltage
  • V 1 is voltage at which the capacitor begins 22 to charge (see figures 4 and/ or 5) and which is measured by the microprocessor 16 in order to solve the above equation.
  • the change in voltage ( ⁇ V) of the capacitor 22 is related to the current (I) supplied by battery 12 as well as the length of time (t ⁇ for which the input transistor 24 remains closed and allows the capacitor 22 to charge and can be represented by the following formula:
  • the output transistor 24 serves to permit a discharge of pulsed DC to flow from the capacitor 22 to a voltage step up transformer 28 that is connected to the terminals 20a and 20b and which steps up the potential difference between the terminals 20a and 20b in a desired ratio.
  • the transformer 28 serves to permit galvanic isolation of the user and permits the output of the nerve stimulation device 10 to have zero direct current offset .
  • the energy (E) transferred to the user via the isolating terminals 20a and 20b during the time period (t 2 ) for which the output transistor 26 is closed can be represented by:
  • a key pad 30 and display means 32 form a control panel 34 which is provided to enable the user to select and/ or to control the energy to be supplied .
  • the user can select the mode of operation as well as the intensity of the energy pulses supplied by nerve stimulation device 10 by means of manipulating the keypad 30 which is in electrical communication with the microprocessor 16.
  • the display means 32 will indicate to the user the settings he has chosen.
  • the nerve stimulation device 10 is operable in one of three modes, namely continuous, pulse or passive exercise which can be chosen by the user via key 36.
  • the display means 32 includes a visual and/ or audible alerting means
  • the key pad 30 further includes keys 40a, 40b, 42a and 42b for manipulating the pulse intensity according to the user's desire. Keys 40a and
  • Key 44 is used to turn the nerve stimulation device 10 on and off.
  • the nerve stimulation device 10 is adapted to stimulate sensory nerves when operating in the continuous or pulse mode and motor nerves when operating in the passive exercise mode.
  • the capacitor 22 will not discharge as much electrical energy as it did for the previous pulse as indicated by region 46 on the graph .
  • the microprocessor 16 will, after having measured V-, 1 , calculate the value of V 2 1 to which the capacitor 22 will have to be charged in order to maintain a constant energy pulse output from the nerve stimulation device 10 . This means that the magnitude of V 1 will be smaller than that of V in order to compensate for the higher voltage at which the nerve stimulation device will then be operating. Should no further disturbances to the resistance between the terminals 20a and 20b occur, the magnitude of V 1 and with it the values of V., 1 and V 2 1 will remain constant as shown in figure 4.
  • the capacitor 22 will discharge more electrical energy than it did for the previous pulse as indicated by region 54 on the graph .
  • the microprocessor 16 will, after having measured V., 1 , calculate the value of V 2 1 to which the capacitor 22 will have to be charged in order to maintain a constant energy pulse output from the nerve stimulation device 10. This means that the magnitude of V 1 will be larger than that of V in order to compensate for the lower voltage at which the nerve stimulation device will then be operating. Should no further disturbances to the resistance between the terminals 20a and 20b occur, the magnitude of V 1 and with it the values of V-, 1 and V 2 1 will remain constant as shown in figure 5.
  • a nerve stimulation device in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that it provides constant energy pulses which fall within a designated zone "A" as shown in figure 6 below the noxious nerve curve 50 whilst still permitting stimulation of the sensory and motor nerves (indicated by curves 52 and 54 respectively) thereby not to harm the user.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
  • Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse (10) comprenant une source d'énergie électrique se présentant sous la forme d'une batterie (12) et des moyens de commande (14) conçus pour être en communication électrique avec la batterie (12), de manière à pouvoir libérer ou décharger périodiquement des quantités d'énergie sensiblement constantes depuis la source constituée par la batterie (12) par l'intermédiaire d'une paire de bornes (20a, 20b), ou entre ces bornes, indépendamment d'une résistance aux bornes (20a, 20b) ou entre ces bornes.
PCT/ZA1999/000091 1999-09-16 1999-09-16 Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse mettant en application des impulsions d'energie constantes WO2001019453A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU62998/99A AU6299899A (en) 1999-09-16 1999-09-16 Constant energy pulse nerve stimulation device
PCT/ZA1999/000091 WO2001019453A1 (fr) 1999-09-16 1999-09-16 Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse mettant en application des impulsions d'energie constantes

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/ZA1999/000091 WO2001019453A1 (fr) 1999-09-16 1999-09-16 Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse mettant en application des impulsions d'energie constantes

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Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001019453A1 true WO2001019453A1 (fr) 2001-03-22

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PCT/ZA1999/000091 WO2001019453A1 (fr) 1999-09-16 1999-09-16 Dispositif de stimulation nerveuse mettant en application des impulsions d'energie constantes

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AU (1) AU6299899A (fr)
WO (1) WO2001019453A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10065056A1 (de) * 2000-12-23 2002-07-04 Falk Hoehne Reizstromgerät
EP2349465A2 (fr) * 2008-10-20 2011-08-03 Seaboard Assets Corp. Dispositif d'électrostimulation crânienne pour le traitement des polytoxicomanies et procédé pour son utilisation

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5222494A (en) * 1991-07-31 1993-06-29 Cyberonics, Inc. Implantable tissue stimulator output stabilization system
US5342410A (en) * 1990-10-05 1994-08-30 Eric Braverman Apparatus and method for increasing the amplitude of P300 waves in the human brain
US5562718A (en) * 1994-06-03 1996-10-08 Palermo; Francis X. Electronic neuromuscular stimulation device
US5725563A (en) * 1993-04-21 1998-03-10 Klotz; Antoine Electronic device and method for adrenergically stimulating the sympathetic system with respect to the venous media

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5342410A (en) * 1990-10-05 1994-08-30 Eric Braverman Apparatus and method for increasing the amplitude of P300 waves in the human brain
US5222494A (en) * 1991-07-31 1993-06-29 Cyberonics, Inc. Implantable tissue stimulator output stabilization system
US5725563A (en) * 1993-04-21 1998-03-10 Klotz; Antoine Electronic device and method for adrenergically stimulating the sympathetic system with respect to the venous media
US5562718A (en) * 1994-06-03 1996-10-08 Palermo; Francis X. Electronic neuromuscular stimulation device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10065056A1 (de) * 2000-12-23 2002-07-04 Falk Hoehne Reizstromgerät
EP2349465A2 (fr) * 2008-10-20 2011-08-03 Seaboard Assets Corp. Dispositif d'électrostimulation crânienne pour le traitement des polytoxicomanies et procédé pour son utilisation
EP2349465A4 (fr) * 2008-10-20 2012-05-30 Seaboard Assets Corp Dispositif d'électrostimulation crânienne pour le traitement des polytoxicomanies et procédé pour son utilisation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6299899A (en) 2001-04-17

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