U.S. patent application number 11/210819 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical stimulator.
This patent application is currently assigned to Industrial Technology Research Institute. Invention is credited to Yu-Kon Chou, Pei-Ying Shieh, Kuo-Hua Tseng.
Application Number | 20060253173 11/210819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37395027 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060253173 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng; Kuo-Hua ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position
for an implantable electrical stimulator
Abstract
A device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator is provided. The
device utilizes a design of a wireless energy transmitting and
positioning device with an external energy-feedback control, which
can automatically detect an optimum energy-transmitting position
through an external antenna performing an adjustable energy
transmission method, and through a wireless-feedback control method
to provide the optimum energy. As such, the implantable electrical
stimulator can exactly and effectively stimulate the nervous
muscle.
Inventors: |
Tseng; Kuo-Hua; (Hsinchu
County, TW) ; Chou; Yu-Kon; (Hsinchu County, TW)
; Shieh; Pei-Ying; (Hsinchu County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Industrial Technology Research
Institute
Hsin Chu
TW
|
Family ID: |
37395027 |
Appl. No.: |
11/210819 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
607/61 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61N 1/3787 20130101;
H04W 52/283 20130101; A61N 1/3603 20170801 |
Class at
Publication: |
607/061 |
International
Class: |
A61N 1/08 20060101
A61N001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 3, 2005 |
TW |
94114273 |
Claims
1. A device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator, comprising: an
external energy-transmitting module, which is located outside an
organism and comprises a first energy-transmitting antenna, a first
wireless radio frequency interface circuit, an adjustable power
control circuit, and an output control circuit, wherein said first
energy-transmitting antenna is used to perform wireless energy
transmission, said first wireless radio frequency interface circuit
is used to drive said first energy-transmitting antenna to emit
energy and convert a sense signal received by said first
energy-transmitting antenna into a first electronic signal, said
adjustable power control circuit determines the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy based on said first electronic
signal, said output control circuit outputs a corresponding output
signal to said first wireless radio frequency interface circuit
based on said optimum power control mode for transmitting energy,
in order to drive said first energy-transmitting antenna to perform
wireless energy transmission; and an internal implantable module,
which is implanted into the organism and comprises a second
energy-transmitting antenna, a second wireless radio frequency
interface circuit, a feedback modulation control circuit, and an
electrical stimulating control circuit, wherein said second
energy-transmitting antenna receives the energy emitted by said
first energy-transmitting antenna, said second wireless radio
frequency interface circuit converts the received energy into a
second electronic signal and then sends said second electronic
signal to said feedback modulation control circuit, said feedback
modulation control circuit determines based on said second
electronic signal whether to drive electrical stimulating control
circuit or generate a feedback signal.
2. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 1,
wherein said external energy-transmitting module further comprises
a display device, which displays the optimum orientation for
transmitting energy and the optimum transmission energy based on
said optimum power control mode for transmitting energy.
3. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 2,
wherein said display device is either of a liquid crystal display
device and a light-emitting diode display device.
4. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 1,
wherein said output control circuit is a digital control
circuit.
5. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 2,
wherein said output control circuit is a digital control
circuit.
6. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 1,
wherein said feedback modulation control circuit has an
energy-storing capacitor, an ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter), a
MCU(Micro Central Unit) and a load modulation circuit, wherein said
energy-storing capacitor converts said second electronic signal
into a voltage level, said ADC detects said voltage level, said MCU
determines said feedback signal to be sent based on said voltage
level, and said load modulation circuit is activated to transmit
said feedback signal.
7. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 2,
wherein said feedback modulation control circuit has an
energy-storing capacitor, an ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter), a
MCU(Micro Central Unit) and a load modulation circuit, wherein said
energy-storing capacitor converts said second electronic signal
into a voltage level, said ADC detects said voltage level, said MCU
determines said feedback signal to be sent based on said voltage
level, and said load modulation circuit is activated to transmit
said feedback signal.
8. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 4,
wherein said feedback modulation control circuit has an
energy-storing capacitor, an ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter), a
MCU(Micro Central Unit) and a load modulation circuit, wherein said
energy-storing capacitor converts said second electronic signal
into a voltage level, said ADC detects said voltage level, said MCU
determines said feedback signal to be sent based on said voltage
level, and said load modulation circuit is activated to transmit
said feedback signal.
9. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 5,
wherein said feedback modulation control circuit has an
energy-storing capacitor, an ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter), a
MCU(Micro Central Unit) and a load modulation circuit, wherein said
energy-storing capacitor converts said second electronic signal
into a voltage level, said ADC detects said voltage level, said MCU
determines said feedback signal to be sent based on said voltage
level, and said load modulation circuit is activated to transmit
said feedback signal.
10. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 1,
wherein said adjustable power control circuit determines based on
said feedback signal an inclination angle and a distance of said
implantable electrical stimulator and said first
energy-transmitting antenna in order to determine the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy.
11. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 2,
wherein said adjustable power control circuit determines based on
said feedback signal an inclination angle and a distance of said
second energy-transmitting antenna and said first
energy-transmitting antenna in order to determine the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy.
12. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electrical stimulator of claim 5,
wherein said adjustable power control circuit determines based on
said feedback signal an inclination angle and a distance of said
second energy-transmitting antenna and said first
energy-transmitting antenna in order to determine the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy.
13. A method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element, comprising:
activating an external energy-transmitting module having an
energy-transmitting antenna to drive said energy-transmitting
antenna to emit energy; receiving said energy by an internal
implantable module and determining based on said energy whether to
drive said implantable electronic element or generate a feedback
signal; receiving said feedback signal by said external
energy-transmitting module to determine an optimum power control
mode for transmitting energy; and transmitting energy. based on
said optimum power control mode for transmitting energy by said
external energy-transmitting module.
14. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 13, wherein
further comprising adjusting the position of said
energy-transmitting antenna when said feedback signal has not been
received by said external energy-transmitting module, until said
feedback signal is received.
15. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 13, wherein
said external energy-transmitting module receives said feedback
signal and determines based on said feedback signal the relative
position and the distance of said implantable electronic element
and said energy-transmitting antenna in order to determine the
optimum power control mode for transmitting energy.
16. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 14, wherein
said external energy-transmitting module receives said feedback
signal and determines based on said feedback signal the relative
position and the distance of said implantable electronic element
and said energy-transmitting antenna in order to determine the
optimum power control mode for transmitting energy.
17. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 13, wherein
further comprising displaying the optimum orientation and the
optimum transmission energy for said energy-transmitting antenna
based on said optimum power control mode for transmitting
energy.
18. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 14, wherein
further comprising displaying the optimum orientation and the
optimum transmission energy for said energy-transmitting antenna
based on said optimum power control mode for transmitting
energy.
19. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 13, wherein
said implantable electronic element is an implantable electrical
stimulator.
20. The method for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting
position for an implantable electronic element of claim 14, wherein
said implantable electronic element is an implantable electrical
stimulator.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a device for transmitting
energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical
stimulator, and more particularly to a device for transmitting
energy and transmitting position, the device uses a wireless
energy-feedback control to determine the optimum transmission
energy and the optimum energy-transmitting position of the
implantable electrical stimulator.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Electrical stimulator combines the principles of Chinese
traditional Point Percussion Therapy and western TENS
(Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation). The stimulator uses
micro electric current to stimulate specific acupuncture points to
achieve the health care effect. That is it can stimulate the
self-cure mechanism of the body with an electric current having
suitable intensity and frequency continuously, gently stimulating
the nerve, the muscle and the cell. On clinical uses, the method of
treatment is divided into the Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve
Stimulation (TENS) and the Electrical Muscle Stimulation(EMS).
[0005] The electrical stimulation has been widely utilized for the
function of recovery. Recently, as a result of the breakthrough of
the micro electron technology, the micro mechanical and electrical
technology, the biological material and the biological compatible
seal technology, the electrical stimulator tends to have a small
and implantable form.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a conventional implantable electrical stimulator
comprising an in vivo electrical stimulating module 10 and an in
vitro energy-transmitting module 12. The in vivo electrical
stimulating module 10 includes a circuit board 100; an in vivo
energy-transmitting coil 102 and a pair of positive/negative
electrode 104 provided on the circuit board 100; and a biological
compatible polymer layer 106 covering the whole in vivo electrical
stimulating module 10. The in vitro energy-transmitting module 12
includes an in vitro control module 120 and an in vitro
energy-transmitting coil 122. The in vitro control module 120 will
drive the in vitro energy-transmitting coil 122 to emit wireless
energy. The wireless energy will be received by the in vivo
energy-transmitting coil 102 and converted by the circuit board 100
into a voltage source. The converted voltage source will be applied
on the positive/negative electrode 104 to generate an electrical
stimulating current.
[0007] As mentioned above, the conventional implantable electrical
stimulator transmits the energy from an external antenna module to
an in vivo implantable electrical stimulating element via radio
frequency (RF) and receive the energy by an internal electronic
component to automatically generate an electrical stimulation,
rather than stimulating the nervous muscle with an electrical line
penetrating through the skin, thus can reduce the probability of
wound infection. At present, however, the energy needed by
conventional implantable electrical stimulating devices is
unidirectionally transmitted into these conventional implantable
electrical stimulating devices via an antenna. That is, the energy
is transmitted to the in vivo electrical stimulating module via an
external energy-transmitting antenna to stimulate the nervous
muscle. In operation, this energy-transmitting method may suffer
from the displacement of the implanted electrical stimulating
element or the electromagnetic interference from surrounding
environment and thus change the properties of the
energy-transmitting circuit, thereby causing to transmit excessive
energy to result in heat-generating from the implantable electrical
stimulating element, or causing to transmit too few energy to
result in abnormal operation or even malfunction, thereby further
causing unnecessary damage to the human body. In addition,
effective detection of the position of the implantable electrical
stimulating element and provision of effective energy-transmission
are also general issues encountered by domestic and foreign
implantable electrical stimulators.
[0008] In brief, the energy-transmitting process of conventional
implantable electrical stimulators has the following disadvantages:
[0009] 1. The correct position of the implantable electrical
stimulator is not easy to detect. [0010] 2. Control of the
power-transmitting does not come easy. [0011] 3. Properties of the
energy-transmitting circuit easily suffer from electromagnetic
interference from surrounding environment.
[0012] Accordingly, there is a need for providing a device for
optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position for an
implantable electrical stimulator in order to solve those problems
mentioned above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position
for an implantable electrical stimulator, which uses a
wireless-feedback control method to provide the optimum wirelessly
transmitting energy and detect the position for optimizing
transmitting energy, such that the implantable electrical
stimulator can exactly and effectively stimulate the nervous
muscle.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position
for an implantable electrical stimulator, which utilizes a design
of optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position such
that the implantable electrical stimulator can be used more
comfortable, safer, and higher reliability.
[0015] Further object of the present invention is to provide a
device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position
for an implantable element, which provides a solution for
optimizing transmitting energy for all implantable elements.
[0016] According to those objects of the present invention
mentioned above, there is provided a device for optimizing
transmitting energy and transmitting position for an implantable
electrical stimulator, which device comprises an external
energy-transmitting module and an internal implantable module. The
external energy-transmitting module is located outside an organism
and comprises a first energy-transmitting antenna, a first wireless
radio frequency interface circuit, an adjustable power control
circuit, and an output control circuit. The first
energy-transmitting antenna is used to perform wireless energy
transmission. The first wireless radio frequency interface circuit
is used to drive the first energy-transmitting antenna to emit
energy and convert a sense signal received by the first
energy-transmitting antenna into a first electronic signal. The
adjustable power control circuit determines the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy based on the first electronic
signal. The output control circuit outputs a corresponding output
signal to the first wireless radio frequency interface circuit
based on the optimum power control mode for transmitting energy, in
order to drive the first energy-transmitting antenna to perform
wireless energy transmission. The internal implantable module is
implanted into the organism and comprises a second
energy-transmitting antenna, a second wireless radio frequency
interface circuit, a feedback modulation control circuit, and an
electrical stimulating control circuit. The second
energy-transmitting antenna receives the energy emitted by the
first energy-transmitting antenna. The second wireless radio
frequency interface circuit converts the received energy into a
second electronic signal and then sends the second electronic
signal to the feedback modulation control circuit. The feedback
modulation control circuit determines based on the second
electronic signal whether the electrical stimulating control
circuit can be driven. If the determination result is yes, then the
electrical stimulating control circuit is driven; or otherwise, a
feedback signal is generated and sent out via the second
energy-transmitting antenna and received by the first
energy-transmitting antenna to form the sense signal.
[0017] As mentioned above, the device for optimizing transmitting
energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical
stimulator according to the present invention utilizes a design of
a wireless energy transmitting and positioning device with an
external energy-feedback control, which can automatically detect an
optimum energy-transmitting position through an external antenna
performing an adjustable energy transmission method, and through a
wireless-feedback control method to provide the optimum energy. As
such, the purpose for treating sore nervous muscle and accelerating
to recover injured organism is achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of assembly of a conventional
implantable electrical stimulating device;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a device for
optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position for an
implantable electrical stimulator according to the present
invention; and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a device for optimizing
transmitting energy and transmitting position for an implantable
electrical stimulator according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The objects and advantages of the present invention will
become clearer understood by the following detailed description of
the embodiment with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of a
device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position
for an implantable electrical stimulator according to the present
invention. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the device for optimizing
transmitting energy and transmitting position for an implantable
electrical stimulator shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the
device for optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position
2 for an implantable electrical stimulator comprises an external
energy-transmitting module 20 and an internal implantable module
22. The external energy-transmitting module 20 is located outside
an organism and the internal implantable module 22 is implanted
into the organism. The external energy-transmitting module 20 is
used to transmit power and data, and comprises a first
energy-transmitting antenna 201, a first wireless radio frequency
interface circuit 202, an adjustable power control circuit 203, an
output control circuit 204, and a display device 205. The internal
implantable module 22 comprises a second energy-transmitting
antenna 221, a second wireless radio frequency interface circuit
222, a feedback modulation control circuit 223 and an electrical
stimulating control circuit 224. Wherein the feedback modulation
control circuit 223 further includes an energy-storing capacitor
2231, an ADC(Analog-to-Digital Converter) 2232, a MCU(Micro Central
Unit) 2233, and a load modulation circuit 2234. The first
energy-transmitting antenna 201 is used to perform wireless energy
transmission. The first wireless radio frequency interface circuit
202 is used to drive the first energy-transmitting antenna 201 to
emit energy and convert a sense signal received by the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201 into a first electronic signal. The
adjustable power control circuit 203 determines the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy based on the first electronic
signal. The output control circuit 204 outputs a corresponding
output signal to the first wireless radio frequency interface
circuit 202 based on the optimum power control mode for
transmitting energy, in order to drive the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201 to perform wireless energy
transmission. The second energy-transmitting antenna 221 receives
the power and data in a form of energy emitted by the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201. The second wireless radio
frequency interface circuit 222 converts the received energy into a
second electronic signal and then sends the second electronic
signal to the feedback modulation control circuit 223. The MCU 2233
determines based on the second electronic signal whether the
received energy is enough to drive the electrical stimulating
control circuit 224. If the determination result is yes, then an
electrical stimulation is performed; or otherwise, a feedback
signal is generated based on the second electronic signal and sent
out via the second energy-transmitting antenna 221 and received by
the first energy-transmitting antenna 201 to form the sense signal.
However, if the first energy-transmitting antenna 201 does not
detect the feedback signal, then the position of the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201 will be further adjusted until a
feedback signal is detected.
[0023] The work principles and flowchart of the device for
optimizing transmitting energy and transmitting position 2 for the
abovementioned implantable electrical stimulator according to the
present invention will be described in detail with reference to
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in the following.
[0024] First, the external energy-transmitting module 20 is
activated at step 300. The first energy-transmitting antenna 201
approaches the internal implantable module 22 to perform wireless
energy transmission. Then at step 301, the wireless radio frequency
energy is received by the second energy-transmitting antenna 221 of
the internal implantable module 22 and converted by the second
wireless radio frequency interface circuit 222 into the second
electronic signal and sent to the feedback modulation control
circuit 223. And, the MCU 2233 determines based on the second
electronic signal whether the energy is enough to drive the
electrical stimulating control circuit 224. If the determination
result is yes, then the process proceeds to step 311, the
electrical stimulating control circuit 224 is driven and an
electrical stimulation is performed. Otherwise if the determination
result is no, and then the process proceeds to step 302 and the ADC
2232 of the feedback modulation control circuit 223 detects the
voltage level of the energy-storing capacitor 2231. And at step
303, the MCU 2233 of the feedback modulation control circuit 223
determines a feedback signal to be sent based on the voltage level
of the energy-storing capacitor 2231. Thereafter, the load
modulation circuit 2234 of the feedback modulation control circuit
223 is activated to transmit the feedback signal at step 304. Then
the external energy-transmitting module 20 detects the feedback
signal via the first energy-transmitting antenna 201 at step 305.
If the first energy-transmitting antenna 201 does not detect the
feedback signal, then the position of the first energy-transmitting
antenna 201 is finely adjusted at step 306 and steps 300-305 is
repeated until the feedback signal is detected by the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201. When the first energy-transmitting
antenna 201 has detected the feedback signal, the process proceeds
to step 307. At step 307, the feedback signal is converted by the
first wireless radio frequency interface circuit 202 into the first
electronic signal and the first electronic signal is sent to the
adjustable power control circuit 203. Based on the first electronic
signal, the adjustable power control circuit 203 determines some
parameters, such as the inclination angle and the distance of the
second energy-transmitting antenna 221 and the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201. At step 308, the adjustable power
control circuit 203 determines the optimum power control mode for
transmitting energy based on these parameters. Then at step 309,
the output control circuit 204, e.g. a digital control circuit,
outputs a corresponding output signal to the first wireless radio
frequency interface circuit 202 based on the optimum power control
mode for transmitting energy, in order to drive the first
energy-transmitting antenna 201 to perform wireless energy
transmission. Subsequently, steps 301 and 310 are performed, the
second wireless radio frequency interface circuit 222 converts the
received energy into a second electronic signal and determines
based on the second electronic signal whether the received energy
is enough to drive the electrical stimulating control circuit 224.
If the determination result is yes, then the process proceeds to
step 311, the electrical stimulating control circuit 224 is
activated and an electrical stimulation is performed; or otherwise,
steps 302 and 309 are repeated, until the electrical stimulating
control circuit 224 can be activated. Moreover, the optimum power
control mode for transmitting energy determined at step 308
determines the optimum orientation for transmitting energy and the
optimum transmission energy for the first energy-transmitting
antenna 201, and the display device 205, e.g. a liquid crystal
display or light-emitting diode display, can display these results.
The position of the first energy-transmitting antenna 201 can be
finely adjusted by the user based on the displayed optimum
orientation of the first energy-transmitting antenna 201.
[0025] As mentioned above, the device for optimizing transmitting
energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical
stimulator according to the present invention can automatically
detect an optimum energy-transmitting position through an external
antenna performing an adjustable energy transmission method, and
through a wireless-feedback control method to provide the optimum
energy, such that the energy can be exactly and effectively
transmitted to the implantable electrical stimulator via a wireless
energy transmission method, thereby the implantable electrical
stimulator can be used more comfortable, safer, and more
convenient. In addition, the device for optimizing transmitting
energy and transmitting position for an implantable electrical
stimulator according to the present invention designs a two-step
usage, such that the product can be used less complex and more
convenient. The device for optimizing transmitting energy and
transmitting position according to the present invention not only
can be combined with an implantable electrical stimulator, but also
can be combined with any implantable electronic element. Thus, the
present invention provides a solution for optimizing transmitting
energy for all implantable elements.
[0026] The above specific embodiments are only illustrative and
does not intend limiting the scope of the present invention. And
many variations can be introduced on these embodiments without
departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of
the appended claims.
* * * * *