Staodynamics, Inc.

Thomas H Thomson

Michael E Halleck

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 electrodes can be made substantially equally active. Since additional pulses occurring during the period closely following occurrence of a pulse pair do not normally adversely affect performance, additional pulses can be added to form additional pulse pairs such that a plurality of electrodes can be made substantially equally active to thereby enhance overall achievement of optimum stimulation.

Nerve fiber stimulation using plural equally active electrodes

Optimization of nerve fiber stimulation to substantially increase the activity of the then selected nerve fibers is disclosed, 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 electro-neurophysiological 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 with the first pulse of each pulse pair being a positive polarity pulse causing the nerve to be set into the refractory period, while the second pulse of each 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. Electrode polarity is absolute, meaning that nerve activity is stimulated almost entirely adjacent to the electrode which has the polarity relationship as above stated. Frequency of occurrence of the pulse pairs and duration of the pulses are preselected to provide a cumulative optimizing effect. Additional normal pulses occurring during the period following occurrence of the first pulse of the pair and before the occurrence of the second pulse of the pair do not normally adversely affect performance, and interleaved pulses can therefore be utilized to simultaneously stimulate a plurality of different types of nerve fibers without adversely affecting optimum stimulation of at least one selected type of the plurality of types of nerve fibers then being stimulated.

Optimized nerve fiber stimulation

A positive displacement intravenous infusion pump device and method are disclosed to precisely meter intravenous fluid to a patient. Intravenous fluid to be injected into the vein of a patient is placed in a closed rigid fluid container, and a variable (but fixed for each administration) quantity of incompressible material, stored in a separate receptacle, is introduced into the fluid container to cause displacement of fluid from the container to thereby inject the fluid into the vein of the patient. Introduction of incompressible material is controlled so that the intravenous fluid is injected in a controlled manner into the vein of the patient.

Positive displacement intravenous infusion pump device and method

A transcutaneous nerve stimulator as disclosed that is useful for suppression of organic pain. The stimulator device is relatively small in overall dimensions and is therefore portable yet provides a rectangular waveform with the output signal produced being sufficient to drive a capacitive resistance load of at least 2.2K ohms in parallel with 0.1Mfd with a maximum rise and fall time of 12 microseconds. The device is powered by a pair of NI-CD batteries providing a 2.5 volt input and produces a maximum 80 volt peak pulse output having a maximum duration of .10 milliseconds at a pulse rate between 20pps and 180pps. Potentiometers are provided to vary the pulse rate, the duty cycle, and output pulse amplitude as is necessary or desirable for a particular patient. The device includes an oscillator that controls the pulse rate of the output from a variable one-shot multivibrator with the output pulses from the multivibrator being coupled through a power amplifier to the primary winding of a step-up transformer, the secondary winding of which transformer is connected through a voltage clamp and variable I.E. mode circuit to the output leads from the device. The disclosed method includes generating a rectangular waveform and producing an output that is sufficient to drive a capacitive resistance load of at least 2.2K ohms in parallel with 0.1Mfd with a maximum rise and fall time of 12 microseconds.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Thomas H Thomson