Pulse generator for cranial nerve stimulation
A system for trigeminal nerve stimulation includes a pulse generator, which includes a user control configured to receive a user adjustment and a microcontroller configured to receive electric stimulation parameters and operate the pulse generator to produce electrical pulses according to the electric stimulation parameters during a treatment session. A method for nerve stimulation includes receiving, by a pulse generator, electric stimulation parameters, and producing, by the pulse generator, electrical pulses according to electric stimulation parameters during a treatment session. The electric stimulation parameters include at least one user-set parameter, which includes a current amplitude that is responsive to the user adjustment of the user control, and at least one physician-set parameter, which includes an upper bound and a lower bound for the current amplitude.
1. A system for nerve stimulation, comprising:
a pulse generator comprising:
a user control configured to receive a user adjustment; and
a microcontroller configured to:
receive electric stimulation parameters comprising at least one user-set parameter and at least one physician-set parameter, the at least one user-set parameter comprising a current amplitude responsive to the user adjustment of the user control, and the at least one physician-set parameter comprising an upper bound and a lower bound for the current amplitude; and
operate the pulse generator to produce electrical pulses according to the electric stimulation parameters during a treatment session.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrode assembly communicatively coupled to the pulse generator.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the electrode assembly is coupled to the pulse generator by a connector or a lead wire, or wirelessly coupled to the pulse generator.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the electrode assembly comprises two contacts.
5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to detect a model of the electrode assembly.
6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to set a used bit on the electrode assembly at the end of the treatment session.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller is further configured to record a log of use for monitoring a patient's adherence to a treatment plan, wherein the log includes a duration of the treatment session, a start time for the treatment session, an end time for the treatment session, a setting for the at least one user-set parameter for the treatment session, and/or an impedance for the treatment session.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric stimulation parameters comprise a current amplitude between 0.3 and 30 mA, a frequency between 1 and 300 Hz, a pulse duration between 50 and 500 microseconds, and a duty cycle between 1 and 100%.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power source.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the power source comprises a battery electrically coupled to the pulse generator.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a power supply or a charging station.
12. A method for nerve stimulation, comprising:
receiving, by a pulse generator, electric stimulation parameters comprising at least one user-set parameter and at least one physician-set parameter, the at least one user-set parameter comprising a current amplitude responsive to a user adjusting a user control, and the at least one physician-set parameter comprising an upper bound and a lower bound for the current amplitude; and
producing, by the pulse generator, electrical pulses according to electric stimulation parameters during a treatment session.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising applying, by an electrode assembly communicatively coupled to the pulse generator, the electrical pulses to at least one branch of a patient's trigeminal nerve.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the applying is performed using a connector or a lead wire coupling the electrode assembly and the pulse generator, or using a wireless connection coupling the electrode assembly and the pulse generator.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the applying is performed via two contacts provided by the electrode assembly.
16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising detecting a model of the electrode assembly.
17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising setting a used bit on the electrode assembly at the end of the treatment session.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising recording, by the pulse generator, a log of use of for monitoring a patient's adherence to a treatment plan, wherein the log includes a duration of the treatment session, a start time for the treatment session, an end time for the treatment session, a setting for the at least one user-set parameter for the treatment session, and/or an impedance for the treatment session.
19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electric pulses have a current amplitude between 0.3 and 30 mA, a frequency between 1 and 300 Hz, a pulse duration between 50 and 500 microseconds, and a duty cycle between 1 and 100%.
20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising supplying, by a power source electrically coupled to the pulse generator, power to the pulse generator.