IP Library Granted Patent US 9,333,356
Granted Patent B2
US 9,333,356 · App. 14/754,960 · Granted May 10, 2016

Systems and methods that provide an electrical waveform for neural stimulation or nerve block

Inventors: Manfred Franke (Redwood City, CA); Kevin L. Kilgore (Avon Lake, OH); Niloy Bhadra (Cleveland Heights, OH)
Assignee: Case Western Reserve University
A61N1/36142A61N1/36125A61N1/3782
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,333,356
App. No.
14/754,960
Granted
May 10, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system that can provide an electric waveform for neural stimulation or nerve block. The system can include a first circuit component configured to provide a self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform. In some instances, the first circuit component can provide a “pause” waveform (e.g., with a period (T) that includes a swing time (ts) in which the waveform varies in a biphasic manner and a pause time (tp) in which the waveform has a constant amplitude). The system can also include a second circuit component configured to ensure that the oscillating signal is charge-balanced across at least one period of the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform.

Claims (31)

1. A method for providing an electric waveform for neural stimulation or nerve block, the method comprising:

providing, by a first circuit component of a system, a self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform to a second circuit component of the system;

ensuring, by the second circuit component of the system, that the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform is charge-balanced across at least one period of the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform and free of contaminating direct current (DC) components; and

outputting, by the second circuit component of the system, the self-oscillating, voltage boosted electric waveform that is charge-balanced across at least one period of the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform and free of contaminating direct current (DC) components.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing further comprises utilizing Lenz's law to facilitate an amplification of a supply voltage from a battery to provide the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform to the second component of the system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the self-oscillating, voltage boosted electric waveform that is output is at least one of current controlled and voltage controlled.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first circuit component comprises a resonating circuit comprising at least one inductor and at least one capacitor and at least one of a transistor, a diode, and a relay.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising interrupting, by a trigger switch, transmission of the electric waveform through at least one path of the first circuit component or the second circuit component,

wherein the trigger switch is at least one of:

located between the first circuit component and the second circuit component; and

located within the second circuit component.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the interrupting further comprises short-circuiting the electric waveform and outputting a zero-amplitude waveform at a plurality of time points.

7. A method for providing a waveform for neural stimulation or nerve block, the method comprising the steps of:

generating, by a waveform generator device, a self-oscillating and voltage boosted biphasic waveform, characterized by an amplitude that varies in a biphasic manner and configured for neural stimulation or nerve block, by utilizing Lenz's law to facilitate an amplification of a supply voltage from a battery; and

interrupting, by a switch coupled to the waveform generator device, the biphasic waveform for a pause time, wherein the interrupted waveform comprises a substantially constant amplitude.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the substantially constant amplitude is zero Volts or zero Amps.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein a time period (T) comprises a swing time (t s ) to complete both phases of the biphasic waveform and the pause time (t p ), so that T=t s +t p .

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the biphasic waveform is charge-balanced during at least one time period (T).

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the switch coupled to the waveform generator interrupts the biphasic waveform by shorting both lines of a channel of the waveform generator, and

further comprising the step of discharging a direct current (DC) component of the waveform during the pause time.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step of interrupting the biphasic waveform further comprises creating an open circuit within the waveform generator to interrupt the biphasic waveform for the pause time.

13. A waveform generation device configured to provide an electric waveform for neural stimulation or nerve block, comprising:

a first circuit component configured to provide a self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform;

a second circuit component configured to output the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform that is charge-balanced across a period of the oscillating electric waveform; and

a switch coupled to the first circuit component or the second circuit component,

wherein the switch is configured to short-circuit an output of the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform for a pause time interval.

14. The waveform generation device of claim 13 , wherein the switch is configured to interrupt the output of the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform for the pause time interval upon completion of at least one cathodic phase or at least one anodic phase.

15. The waveform generation device of claim 13 , wherein the interrupted waveform comprises a substantially constant voltage or current amplitude provided to the output terminals of the waveform generation device during the pause time interval.

16. The waveform generation device of claim 13 , wherein during the pause time, a direct current (DC) component of the self-oscillating, voltage-boosted electric waveform discharges to achieve a charge balanced electric waveform for neural stimulation or neural block.

17. The waveform generation device of claim 13 , wherein during the pause time, the polarity of the waveform is reversed to provide charge balancing of the overall waveform over two or more time periods T.

18. The waveform generation device of claim 13 , wherein during the pause time, the waveform generation device sends or receives data with a temporarily higher signal to noise ration due at least in part to a reduction in noise caused by the waveform generation device.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jul 13, 2016
From: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reel/Frame 039323/0795 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2016
From: FRANKE, MANFRED; KILGORE, KEVIN L.; BHADRA, NILOY
To: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 037685/0077 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14275822 · May 12, 2014
Provisional Application 61821873 · May 10, 2013
Provisional Application 61824525 · May 17, 2013
Related Publication 20150335897A1 · Nov 26, 2015