초록 ▼

An electrode cuff (B) including a dielectric sleeve (10) and an annular cathode electrode (20) is disposed around a nerve trunk (A). An anode electrode (22) is disposed in body fluids in electrical communication with the nerve trunk. The cathode electrode is disposed off center within the dielectric

An electrode cuff (B) including a dielectric sleeve (10) and an annular cathode electrode (20) is disposed around a nerve trunk (A). An anode electrode (22) is disposed in body fluids in electrical communication with the nerve trunk. The cathode electrode is disposed off center within the dielectric sleeve. The flow of electric current from the anode to the cathode has a much greater amplitude along the nerve in the direction extending along the nerve trunk toward the cathode from the end of the dielectric sleeve toward which the cathode electrode is closest. A signal generator (C) applies a pulse train across the anode and cathode electrodes. The pulse train includes a plurality of alternating first amplitude pulse portions (40) and opposite polarity pulse portions (42). Each first polarity pulse includes a sharp leading edge (50) which rises abruptly to a preset amplitude (52). A trailing edge (56) of each first pulse portion decays smoothly into a leading edge (60) of each opposite polarity pulse portion without a discontinuity therebetween. The opposite polarity pulse portion has an amplitude (62) which is smaller than the triggering amplitude and a duration which is longer than the first polarity pulse portion duration. The amplitude and duration of the first and opposite polarity pulse portions are selected such that the net charge transfer in each direction is substantially the same.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of generating an antidromic action potential traveling unidirectionally along a nerve trunk while maintaining a balanced net charge transfer therealong, the method comprising: applying an electrical waveform including a first current pulse portion of a first polarity and a second current pu

A method of generating an antidromic action potential traveling unidirectionally along a nerve trunk while maintaining a balanced net charge transfer therealong, the method comprising: applying an electrical waveform including a first current pulse portion of a first polarity and a second current pulse portion of a second polarity to the nerve trunk, the first current pulse portion including: a rapid amplitude increasing portion, a relatively stable amplitude plateau portion, and a discontinuity free decreasing portion; the second pulse portion including: an opposite polarity increasing portion which follows the first pulse portion with a smoothly and transition-free interface therebetween, the opposite polarity pulse portion having a relatively small amplitude as compared to the first pulse portion and a relatively long duration as compared to the first pulse portion; the first pulse portion decreasing portion and the second polarity increasing portion taken together form a smooth, continuous waveform portion whose first derivative is smooth and continuous from the plateau portion through the interface to the opposite pulse relatively small amplitude.