Stimulator, medical system and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

The invention provides a stimulator, a medical system and a computer readable storage medium, the stimulator comprises at least one stimulation source, and each stimulation source is used for receiving a program control instruction, generating a corresponding stimulation pulse signal and outputting the stimulation pulse signal to at least one corresponding stimulation contact; the stimulator further comprises a memory and at least one processor, the memory stores a computer program, and the at least one processor is configured to implement the following steps when executing the computer program: setting a control duration by using a timer; and according to the control duration, adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources. The stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources are adjusted according to the control duration set by the timer, and the application range is wide.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of implantable medical devices, and in particular to a stimulator, a medical system and a computer-readable storage medium. Background Art

[0002] With the development of science and technology and social progress, patients are eager to improve their quality of life through various treatment methods. Among them, medical devices, especially implantable devices, have very broad application prospects. Implantable devices refer to medical devices that are fully or partially inserted into the human body or cavity (orifice) with the help of surgery, or are used to replace the human epithelial surface or eye surface, and remain in the human body for 30 days (inclusive) or more after the operation, or are absorbed by the human body. A stimulator is a type of implantable device. The stimulator usually includes an IPG (pulse generator) and electrode wires, which can provide patients with refined electrical stimulation therapy with controllable parameters, and is popular among many consumers in the market.

[0003] Existing neural stimulators can only adjust parameters such as stimulation amplitude, pulse width, and frequency, but cannot adjust the stimulation timing of each stimulation contact of the stimulation source and the phase of the stimulation pulse signal.

[0004] Based on this, the present application provides a stimulator, a medical system and a computer-readable storage medium to improve the relevant technology. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present application is to provide a stimulator, a medical system and a computer-readable storage medium, which can adjust the stimulation pulse signals of part or all stimulation sources according to the control duration set by a timer, and have a wide range of applications.

[0006] The purpose of this application is achieved by the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a stimulator, the stimulator comprising at least one stimulation source, each stimulation source being used to receive a program control instruction, generate a corresponding stimulation pulse signal and output it to at least one corresponding stimulation contact;

[0008] The stimulator further comprises a memory and at least one processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the at least one processor is configured to implement the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0009] Use the timer setting to control the duration;

[0010] According to the control duration, the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources are adjusted.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this technical solution are: according to the control duration set by the timer, on the one hand, it can output in time in the case of a single independent stimulation source to achieve the effect of multiple independent sources; on the other hand, in the case of multiple independent stimulation sources, the phase can be adjusted to help patients find suitable stimulation parameters, meet the deviations due to individual differences in different patients with different indications, increase the scope of application, and improve patient tolerance.

[0012] In some optional embodiments, the stimulator includes a stimulation source, and the stimulator also includes a switch selection module, and the at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0013] In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to switch the on-off state of part or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source, so that the stimulation pulse signal of the stimulation source can be output in time-sharing manner.

[0014] The beneficial effect of this technical solution is that by setting a timer and a switch selection module, the stimulation pulse signal of only one stimulation source can be output to different stimulation contacts, so that multiple stimulation contacts can all have the effect of stimulation output, realize time-sharing output, and effectively reduce the volume of hardware circuits. Specifically, in one stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module can be used to control some stimulation contacts of the stimulation source to be turned on and some stimulation contacts to be disconnected, so that the stimulation contacts in the on state can deliver electrical stimulation. In the next stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration again, the switch selection module is used to control another part of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source to be turned on and other stimulation contacts to be disconnected, so that the other part of the stimulation contacts can deliver electrical stimulation. This cycle is repeated, so that multiple stimulation contacts can all have the effect of stimulation output.

[0015] In some optional embodiments, the stimulation source is provided with N stimulation contacts, and N adjacent stimulation periods are regarded as a stimulation cycle, where N is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0016] The at least one processor is configured to use the switch selection module to switch the on-off state of some or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0017] In each stimulation cycle of the stimulation cycle, one stimulation contact is selected as the target stimulation contact without repetition each time, and when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to control the target stimulation contact to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulation contacts are turned off.

[0018] The beneficial effect of the technical solution is that: for a single stimulus source generator to generate a stimulus waveform, the time interval of the stimulus can be adjusted by a timer, and the switch selection module can be used to select which contacts to output it. Specifically, when the stimulator has only one stimulus source, this stimulus source corresponds to a group of stimulus contacts (the first stimulus contact to the Nth stimulus contact). In the first stimulation cycle, the first stimulus contact is selected as the target stimulus contact. When the timing duration reaches the control duration, the first stimulus contact is controlled to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulus contacts are disconnected; in the second stimulation cycle, the second stimulus contact is selected as the target stimulus contact. When the timing duration reaches the control duration, the second stimulus contact is controlled to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulus contacts are disconnected. By analogy, in the Nth stimulation cycle, the Nth stimulus contact is selected as the target stimulus contact. When the timing duration reaches the control duration, the Nth stimulus contact is controlled to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulus contacts are disconnected. In summary, within a large stimulation cycle, each stimulation contact is guaranteed to achieve polling stimulation, so that a single independent source can achieve the control effect of multiple independent sources.

[0019] In some optional embodiments, the stimulation period is denoted as T, the control duration is denoted as t, and 0.2T≤t≤0.8T.

[0020] The beneficial effect of this technical solution is that the ratio between the control time and the stimulation period can be in the range of 0.2 to 0.8, and the stimulation time interval can be adjusted by adjusting the control time according to the needs of actual application.

[0021] In some optional embodiments, the stimulator includes a plurality of stimulation sources, and the stimulation pulse signals of each stimulation source have the same frequency;

[0022] The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0023] One of the stimulators is used as a reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control time length, one or more other stimulation sources are controlled to start outputting stimulation pulse signals.

[0024] The beneficial effect of this technical solution is that the addition of a phase adjustable function under the same frequency of multiple independent stimulation sources can help more patients find suitable stimulation parameters, meet the deviations of individual differences in different patients with different indications, increase the scope of application, and improve patient tolerance. Specifically, in the case where the stimulator is provided with multiple stimulation sources, when multiple stimulation sources are of the same frequency, their phases are the same, and the control duration (for example, t) is set by a timer, so that some or all of the stimulation sources can be offset by 1 t compared to the reference stimulation source, thereby achieving the effect of phase adjustment.

[0025] In some optional embodiments, the stimulator includes a first stimulation source to an Mth stimulation source, the control time is recorded as t, and M is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0026] The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0027] Take the first stimulation source as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control node duration, control the k+1th stimulation source to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal. The control node duration is k*t, where k is an integer and 1≤k≤M-1.

[0028] The beneficial effect of this technical solution is that: when the stimulator has multiple stimulation sources, the first stimulation source is used as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches t, the second stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal; when the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches 2t, the third stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal; when the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches 3t, the fourth stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal, and so on. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches (M-1)*t, the Mth stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal.

[0029] In a second aspect, the present application provides a control method for a stimulator, wherein the stimulator comprises at least one stimulation source, each stimulation source being used to receive a program control instruction, generate a corresponding stimulation pulse signal and output it to at least one corresponding stimulation contact;

[0030] The method comprises:

[0031] Use the timer setting to control the duration;

[0032] According to the control duration, the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources are adjusted.

[0033] In some optional embodiments, the stimulator includes a stimulation source, and the stimulator also includes a switch selection module, and the adjusting of the stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources according to the control duration includes:

[0034] In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to switch the on-off state of part or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source, so that the stimulation pulse signal of the stimulation source can be output in time-sharing manner.

[0035] In some optional embodiments, the stimulation source is provided with N stimulation contacts, and N adjacent stimulation periods are regarded as a stimulation cycle, where N is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0036] The using the switch selection module to switch the on-off state of some or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source includes:

[0037] In each stimulation cycle of the stimulation cycle, one stimulation contact is selected as the target stimulation contact without repetition each time, and when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to control the target stimulation contact to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulation contacts are turned off.

[0038] In some optional embodiments, the stimulation period is denoted as T, the control duration is denoted as t, and 0.2T≤t≤0.8T.

[0039] In some optional embodiments, the stimulator includes a plurality of stimulation sources, and the stimulation pulse signals of each stimulation source have the same frequency;

[0040] The step of adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration includes:

[0041] One of the stimulators is used as a reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control time length, one or more other stimulation sources are controlled to start outputting stimulation pulse signals.

[0042] In some optional embodiments, the stimulator includes a first stimulation source to an Mth stimulation source, the control time is recorded as t, and M is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0043] The step of adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration includes:

[0044] Take the first stimulation source as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control node duration, control the k+1th stimulation source to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal. The control node duration is k*t, where k is an integer and 1≤k≤M-1.

[0045] In a third aspect, the present application provides a medical system, the medical system comprising:

[0046] Any of the above stimulators.

[0047] In some optional embodiments, the medical system further includes: a timer, wherein the timer is used to set a control duration, wherein the timer is integrated with the stimulator, or the timer and the stimulator are independently set.

[0048] In some optional embodiments, the medical system further comprises:

[0049] A programmable device is arranged outside the patient's body, and is used to generate programmable instructions and send the programmable instructions to the stimulator.

[0050] In some optional embodiments, the types of diseases that the medical system is used to treat or manage include one or more of the following: spastic disorders, pain, migraine, mental illness, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral disorders, mood disorders, memory disorders, mental state disorders, movement disorders, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and drug addiction.

[0051] In a fourth aspect, the present application provides a computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by at least one processor, the function of any of the above-mentioned stimulators is realized.

[0052] In a fifth aspect, the present application also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by at least one processor, it implements the functions of any of the above-mentioned stimulators. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The present application is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and implementation methods.

[0054] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a stimulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0055] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of another stimulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0056] Figure 3 It is a waveform diagram of a single stimulus source provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0057] Figure 4 It is a waveform diagram of a multi-stimulus source provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0058] Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of a stimulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] Figure 6 It is a structural diagram of a program product provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] Figure 7 It is a structural diagram of a computer program product provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] The technical solution in the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings and specific implementation methods of the specification of the present application. It should be noted that, under the premise of no conflict, the various implementation methods or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form a new implementation method.

[0062] In the embodiments of the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c, a and b and c, where a, b and c can be single or multiple. It is worth noting that "at least one" can also be interpreted as "one or more items".

[0063] It should also be noted that in the embodiments of the present application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or descriptions. Any implementation or design scheme described as "exemplary" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other implementations or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a specific way.

[0064] Below, one of the application fields of the present application (i.e., implantable neural stimulator) is briefly described.

[0065] Implantable medical systems include implantable neural stimulation systems, implantable cardiac stimulation systems (also known as pacemakers), implantable drug delivery systems (IDDS), and lead switching systems. Examples of implantable neural stimulation systems include deep brain stimulation (DBS), implantable cortical nerve stimulation (CNS), implantable spinal cord stimulation (SCS), implantable sacral nerve stimulation (SNS), and implantable vagus nerve stimulation (VNS).

[0066] The implantable neural electrical stimulation system includes a stimulator implanted in the patient's body (i.e., an implantable neural stimulator, a neural stimulation device) and a programmable device disposed outside the patient's body. In other words, the stimulator is an implant, or the implant includes the stimulator. The relevant neural regulation technology mainly implants electrodes (electrodes, for example, in the form of electrode wires) in specific parts of the tissue of the organism (i.e., target points) through stereotactic surgery, and emits discharge pulses to the target points through the electrodes to regulate the electrical activities and functions of the corresponding neural structures and networks, thereby improving symptoms and relieving pain. Among them, the stimulator may include an IPG, an extension wire and an electrode wire. The IPG (implantable pulse generator) is disposed in the patient's body, responds to the programmable instructions sent by the programmable device, and relies on sealed batteries and circuits to provide controllable electrical stimulation energy to the tissues in the body. The IPG delivers one or more controllable specific electrical stimulations to specific areas of the tissues in the body through the extension wire and the electrode wire. The extension wire is used in conjunction with the IPG as a transmission medium for the electrical stimulation signal, and transmits the electrical stimulation signal generated by the IPG to the electrode wire. The electrode wire delivers electrical stimulation to a specific area of ​​the tissue in the body through a plurality of electrode contacts. The stimulator is provided with one or more electrode wires on one side or both sides, and a plurality of electrode contacts are provided on the electrode wire, and the electrode contacts can be arranged uniformly or non-uniformly on the circumference of the electrode wire. As an example, the electrode contacts can be arranged in an array of 4 rows and 3 columns (a total of 12 electrode contacts) on the circumference of the electrode wire. The electrode contacts can include stimulation electrode contacts and / or collection electrode contacts. The electrode contacts can be in the shape of sheets, rings, dots, etc., for example.

[0067] In other embodiments, the stimulator only includes a pulse generator and an electrode wire, wherein the pulse generator is embedded in the patient's skull and the electrode wire is implanted in the patient's skull, and the pulse generator is directly connected to the electrode wire without extending the wire.

[0068] As an example, a deep brain stimulation system (DBS) includes an implantable pulse generator (IPG), an extension wire and an electrode wire, and the IPG is connected to the electrode wire through the extension wire. The IPG is implanted in the patient's body, for example, in the patient's chest or other body parts.

[0069] As another example, DBS includes an IPG and an electrode lead, and the IPG is directly connected to the electrode lead. The IPG is implanted in the patient's head, for example, a groove is made in the patient's skull, and then the IPG is installed in the groove of the skull. In this case, the IPG may not protrude from the outer surface of the skull, or may partially protrude from the outer surface of the skull.

[0070] In some embodiments, the stimulated body tissue may be the patient's brain tissue, and the stimulated site may be a specific site of the brain tissue. When the patient's disease type is different, the stimulated site is generally different, and the number of stimulation contacts (single source or multiple sources) used, the use of one or more (single channel or multiple channels) specific electrical stimulation signals, and the stimulation parameter data are also different. The embodiments of the present application do not limit the applicable disease types, which may be deep brain stimulation (DBS), spinal cord stimulation (SCS), pelvic stimulation, gastric stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation, and functional electrical stimulation. The disease type is applicable. Among them, the types of diseases that DBS can be used to treat or manage include, but are not limited to: spastic disorders (e.g., epilepsy), pain, migraine, psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder (MDD)), bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, hypotension, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), behavioral disorders, mood disorders, memory disorders, mental state disorders, movement disorders (e.g., essential tremor or Parkinson's disease), Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, drug addiction, autism or other neurological or psychiatric diseases and injuries.

[0071] In the embodiment of the present application, when the programmable device and the stimulator establish a programmable connection, the programmable device can be used to adjust the stimulation parameters of the stimulator (or the stimulation parameters of the pulse generator, different stimulation parameters correspond to different electrical stimulation signals), or the stimulator can sense the patient's electrophysiological activities to collect bioelectric signals, and the collected bioelectric signals can be used to continue to adjust the stimulation parameters of the stimulator.

[0072] The stimulation parameters of the electrical stimulation signal may include frequency (for example, the number of electrical stimulation pulse signals within a unit time of 1s, in Hz), pulse width (duration of each pulse, in μs), and amplitude (generally expressed in voltage, that is, the intensity of each pulse, in V), timing (for example, continuous or triggered), stimulation mode (including one or more of current mode, voltage mode, timed stimulation mode and cyclic stimulation mode), doctor-controlled upper and lower limits (range adjustable by the doctor) and patient-controlled upper and lower limits (range adjustable by the patient). Any one or more of the above. In specific applications, the stimulation parameters of the stimulator can be adjusted in current mode or voltage mode.

[0073] The programmable device can be a doctor's programmer (i.e., a programmer used by a doctor) or a patient programmer (i.e., a programmer used by a patient). The doctor's programmer can be, for example, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a mobile phone, or other intelligent terminal device equipped with programmable software. The patient programmer can be, for example, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a mobile phone, or other intelligent terminal device equipped with programmable software. The patient programmer can also be other electronic devices with programmable functions (e.g., a charger with programmable functions, a data acquisition device).

[0074] This application does not restrict the data interaction between the doctor programmer and the stimulator. When the doctor performs remote programming, the doctor programmer can interact with the stimulator through the server and the patient programmer. When the doctor performs offline programming with the patient face to face, the doctor programmer can interact with the stimulator through the patient programmer, and the doctor programmer can also interact with the stimulator directly.

[0075] The patient programmer may include a host communicating with the server and a sub-machine communicating with the stimulator, and the host and the sub-machine may be connected in a communicative manner. Among them, the doctor programmer may exchange data with the server through the 3G / 4G / 5G network, the server may exchange data with the host through the 3G / 4G / 5G network, the host may exchange data with the sub-machine through the Bluetooth protocol / WIFI protocol / USB protocol, the sub-machine may exchange data with the stimulator through the 401MHz-406MHz working frequency band / 2.4GHz-2.48GHz working frequency band, and the doctor programmer may directly exchange data with the stimulator through the 401MHz-406MHz working frequency band / 2.4GHz-2.48GHz working frequency band.

[0076] With the development of science and technology and social progress, patients are eager to improve their quality of life through various treatment methods. Among them, medical devices, especially implantable devices, have very broad application prospects. Implantable devices refer to medical devices that are fully or partially inserted into the human body or cavity (orifice) with the help of surgery, or are used to replace the human epithelial surface or eye surface, and remain in the human body for 30 days (inclusive) or more after the operation, or are absorbed by the human body. A stimulator is a type of implantable device. The stimulator usually includes an IPG (pulse generator) and electrode wires, which can provide patients with refined electrical stimulation therapy with controllable parameters, and is popular among many consumers in the market.

[0077] Existing neural stimulators can only adjust parameters such as stimulation amplitude, pulse width, and frequency, but cannot adjust the stimulation timing of each stimulation contact of the stimulation source and the phase of the stimulation pulse signal.

[0078] Based on this, the present application provides a stimulator, a medical system and a computer-readable storage medium to improve the relevant technology.

[0079] Method Embodiment

[0080] The present application provides a control method for a stimulator, wherein the stimulator comprises at least one stimulation source, each stimulation source being used to receive a program control instruction, generate a corresponding stimulation pulse signal and output it to at least one corresponding stimulation contact;

[0081] The method comprises:

[0082] Use the timer setting to control the duration;

[0083] According to the control duration, the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources are adjusted.

[0084] In the embodiment of the present application, the number M of stimulation sources is not limited, and the stimulator may include one stimulation source or multiple stimulation sources (M is, for example, 2, 3, 5, 8 or 10).

[0085] When the stimulator includes multiple stimulation sources, each stimulation source is connected to a group of stimulation contacts in a one-to-one correspondence, and the number N of the stimulation contacts is not limited, and N is, for example, 2, 3, 5 or 8.

[0086] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a stimulator provided in an embodiment of the present application. In one embodiment, when the stimulator has only one stimulation source, the stimulation source is connected to the corresponding multiple stimulation contacts through multiple stimulation leads and multiple switches, that is, each stimulation contact is connected to the stimulation source through a stimulation lead, and a switch is provided between each stimulation lead and the stimulation source.

[0087] See also Figure 2 , Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of another stimulator provided in an embodiment of the present application. In another embodiment, when the stimulator has multiple stimulation sources, each stimulation source is connected to a corresponding group of stimulation contacts through a corresponding stimulation lead and a switch, that is, each group of stimulation contacts is connected to a corresponding stimulation source through a stimulation lead, and a switch is provided between each stimulation lead and each corresponding stimulation source.

[0088] When the switch between the stimulation source and the stimulation lead is turned on, the electrical stimulation generated by the stimulation source can be transmitted to the stimulation contact corresponding to the stimulation lead; when the switch between the stimulation source and the stimulation lead is turned off, the electrical stimulation generated by the stimulation source cannot be transmitted to the stimulation contact corresponding to the stimulation lead. Since the stimulation contacts corresponding to other stimulation leads will not be affected, setting up multiple stimulation leads and multiple switches can accurately control the brain tissue that needs to be treated by the patient for electrical stimulation.

[0089] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the control time t, and t is, for example, 1 millisecond, 2 milliseconds, 5 milliseconds or 8 milliseconds.

[0090] Therefore, according to the control duration set by the timer, on the one hand, in the case of a single independent stimulation source, the output can be divided into time to achieve the effect of multiple independent sources; on the other hand, in the case of multiple independent stimulation sources, the phase can be adjusted to help patients find suitable stimulation parameters to meet the deviations of individual differences in different patients with different indications, increase the scope of application, and improve patient tolerance.

[0091] In some embodiments, the stimulator includes a stimulation source, and the stimulator also includes a switch selection module, and the step of adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources according to the control duration includes:

[0092] In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to switch the on-off state of part or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source, so that the stimulation pulse signal of the stimulation source can be output in time-sharing manner.

[0093] The embodiment of the present application does not limit the stimulation period T, and the stimulation period can be 10 milliseconds, 30 milliseconds, 60 milliseconds, 90 milliseconds or 120 milliseconds.

[0094] Specifically, the switch selection module switches the on-off state of the stimulation contact, which means that the switch between the stimulation source and the stimulation contact is originally in the on state, and the switch selection module is used to adjust the switch between the stimulation source and the stimulation contact to the off state; or, the switch between the stimulation source and the stimulation contact is originally in the off state, and the switch selection module is used to adjust the switch between the stimulation source and the stimulation contact to the on state.

[0095] The switch selection module can switch the on-off state of some stimulation contacts of the stimulation source, and can also switch the on-off state of all stimulation contacts of the stimulation source.

[0096] As an example, there are three stimulation contacts (the first stimulation contact to the third stimulation contact), wherein the first stimulation contact is turned on, and the second stimulation contact and the third stimulation contact are turned off. In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches t, the switch selection module can control the first stimulation contact to be turned off, and can also control the second stimulation contact and the third stimulation contact to be turned on. When the next stimulation cycle arrives, the switch selection module restores the on-off state of each stimulation contact to the initial state, and so on.

[0097] Therefore, by setting a timer and a switch selection module, the stimulation pulse signal of only one stimulation source can be output to different stimulation contacts, so that multiple stimulation contacts can all have the effect of stimulation output, realize time-sharing output, and effectively reduce the volume of the hardware circuit. Specifically, in one stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module can be used to control some stimulation contacts of the stimulation source to be turned on and some stimulation contacts to be disconnected, so that the stimulation contacts in the on state can deliver electrical stimulation. In the next stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration again, the switch selection module is used to control another part of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source to be turned on and other stimulation contacts to be disconnected, so that the other part of the stimulation contacts can deliver electrical stimulation. This cycle is repeated, so that multiple stimulation contacts can all have the effect of stimulation output.

[0098] In some embodiments, the stimulation source is provided with N stimulation contacts, and N adjacent stimulation periods are regarded as a stimulation cycle, where N is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0099] The using the switch selection module to switch the on-off state of some or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source includes:

[0100] In each stimulation cycle of the stimulation cycle, one stimulation contact is selected as the target stimulation contact without repetition each time, and when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to control the target stimulation contact to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulation contacts are turned off.

[0101] See also Figure 3 , Figure 3 It is a waveform diagram of a single stimulus source provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0102] In one embodiment, the stimulation source is provided with two stimulation contacts (a first stimulation contact and a second stimulation contact). In an initial state, the first stimulation contact is in an on state and the second stimulation contact is in an off state. In a first stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches a control duration t, the first stimulation contact is controlled to be off and the second stimulation contact is controlled to be on. In a second stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration t, the first stimulation contact is controlled to be on and the second stimulation contact is off. In each subsequent stimulation cycle, as long as the timing duration reaches the control duration t, the on-off state of the first stimulation contact and the second stimulation contact is switched, so that the first stimulation contact and the second stimulation contact achieve cyclic interval stimulation.

[0103] Thus, for a single stimulus source generator to generate a stimulus waveform, the time interval of the stimulus can be adjusted by a timer, and the switch selection module can be used to select which contacts to output it. Specifically, when the stimulator has only one stimulus source, this stimulus source corresponds to a group of stimulus contacts (the first stimulus contact to the Nth stimulus contact). In the first stimulus cycle, the first stimulus contact is selected as the target stimulus contact. When the timing duration reaches the control duration, the first stimulus contact is controlled to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulus contacts are disconnected; in the second stimulus cycle, the second stimulus contact is selected as the target stimulus contact. When the timing duration reaches the control duration, the second stimulus contact is controlled to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulus contacts are disconnected. By analogy, in the Nth stimulus cycle, the Nth stimulus contact is selected as the target stimulus contact. When the timing duration reaches the control duration, the Nth stimulus contact is controlled to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulus contacts are disconnected. In summary, within a large stimulation cycle, each stimulation contact is guaranteed to achieve polling stimulation, so that a single independent source can achieve the control effect of multiple independent sources.

[0104] In some embodiments, the stimulation period is denoted as T, the control duration is denoted as t, and 0.2T≤t≤0.8T.

[0105] Therefore, the ratio between the control time and the stimulation period can be in the range of 0.2 to 0.8, and the stimulation time interval can be adjusted by adjusting the control time according to the needs of actual applications.

[0106] In some embodiments, the stimulator includes a plurality of stimulation sources, and the stimulation pulse signals of each stimulation source have the same frequency;

[0107] The step of adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration includes:

[0108] One of the stimulators is used as a reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control time length, one or more other stimulation sources are controlled to start outputting stimulation pulse signals.

[0109] Therefore, adding a phase-adjustable function under the same frequency of multiple independent stimulation sources can help more patients find suitable stimulation parameters, meet the deviations of individual differences in different patients with different indications, increase the scope of application, and improve patient tolerance. Specifically, when the stimulator is provided with multiple stimulation sources, when multiple stimulation sources are of the same frequency, their phases are the same. By setting the control duration (for example, t) by the timer, some or all of the stimulation sources can be offset by 1 t compared to the reference stimulation source, thereby achieving the effect of phase adjustment.

[0110] In some embodiments, the stimulator includes a first stimulation source to an Mth stimulation source, the control time is recorded as t, and M is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0111] The step of adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration includes:

[0112] Take the first stimulation source as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control node duration, control the k+1th stimulation source to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal. The control node duration is k*t, where k is an integer and 1≤k≤M-1.

[0113] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 It is a waveform diagram of a multi-stimulus source provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0114] In one embodiment, the stimulator is provided with two stimulation sources (a first stimulation source and a second stimulation source). In an initial state, the first stimulation contact is at the same frequency and phase. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the first stimulation source reaches t, the second stimulation source is controlled to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal, so that the second stimulation source is phase-shifted by 1 t relative to the first stimulation source.

[0115] Therefore, when the stimulator has multiple stimulation sources, the first stimulation source is used as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches t, the second stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal; when the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches 2t, the third stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal; when the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches 3t, the fourth stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal, and so on. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches (M-1)*t, the Mth stimulation source starts to output the stimulation pulse signal.

[0116] In a specific application scenario, an embodiment of the present application further provides a control method for a stimulator, wherein the stimulator includes at least one stimulation source, each stimulation source is used to receive a program control instruction, generate a corresponding stimulation pulse signal and output it to at least one corresponding stimulation contact;

[0117] The method comprises:

[0118] Use the timer setting to control the duration;

[0119] According to the control duration, adjusting the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources;

[0120] When the stimulator includes a stimulation source, the stimulator further includes a switch selection module. In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to switch the on-off state of part or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source so that the stimulation pulse signal of the stimulation source can be output in time-sharing manner. The stimulation cycle is recorded as T, and the control duration is recorded as t, 0.2T≤t≤0.8T;

[0121] Wherein, the stimulation source is provided with N stimulation contacts, and N adjacent stimulation periods are regarded as one stimulation cycle, N is a positive integer greater than 1, N=2-8;

[0122] The using the switch selection module to switch the on-off state of some or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source includes:

[0123] In each stimulation cycle of the stimulation cycle, one stimulation contact is selected as the target stimulation contact without repetition each time, and when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to control the target stimulation contact to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulation contacts are turned off;

[0124] When the stimulator includes a plurality of stimulation sources, the stimulation pulse signals of each stimulation source have the same frequency;

[0125] Taking one of the stimulators as a reference stimulation source, when the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control time length, controlling one or more other stimulation sources to start outputting stimulation pulse signals;

[0126] Wherein, the stimulator includes the first stimulation source to the Mth stimulation source, the control duration is recorded as t, M is a positive integer greater than 1, the first stimulation source is used as the reference stimulation source, when the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control node duration, the k+1th stimulation source is controlled to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal, the control node duration is k*t, k is an integer and 1≤k≤M-1, M=2~10;

[0127] Device Embodiment

[0128] The embodiment of the present application also provides a stimulator, and its specific embodiment is consistent with the embodiment recorded in the above method embodiment and the technical effects achieved, and some contents will not be repeated here.

[0129] The stimulator includes at least one stimulation source, each of which is used to receive program control instructions, generate corresponding stimulation pulse signals and output them to at least one corresponding stimulation contact;

[0130] The stimulator further comprises a memory and at least one processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the at least one processor is configured to implement the following steps when executing the computer program:

[0131] Use the timer setting to control the duration;

[0132] According to the control duration, the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources are adjusted.

[0133] In some embodiments, the stimulator includes a stimulation source, and the stimulator also includes a switch selection module, and the at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0134] In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to switch the on-off state of part or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source, so that the stimulation pulse signal of the stimulation source can be output in time-sharing manner.

[0135] In some embodiments, the stimulation source is provided with N stimulation contacts, and N adjacent stimulation periods are regarded as a stimulation cycle, where N is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0136] The at least one processor is configured to use the switch selection module to switch the on-off state of some or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0137] In each stimulation cycle of the stimulation cycle, one stimulation contact is selected as the target stimulation contact without repetition each time, and when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to control the target stimulation contact to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulation contacts are turned off.

[0138] In some embodiments, N=2-8.

[0139] In some embodiments, the stimulation period is denoted as T, the control duration is denoted as t, and 0.2T≤t≤0.8T.

[0140] In some embodiments, the stimulator includes a plurality of stimulation sources, and the stimulation pulse signals of each stimulation source have the same frequency;

[0141] The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0142] One of the stimulators is used as a reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control time length, one or more other stimulation sources are controlled to start outputting stimulation pulse signals.

[0143] In some embodiments, the stimulator includes a first stimulation source to an Mth stimulation source, the control time is recorded as t, and M is a positive integer greater than 1;

[0144] The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program:

[0145] Take the first stimulation source as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control node duration, control the k+1th stimulation source to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal. The control node duration is k*t, where k is an integer and 1≤k≤M-1.

[0146] In some embodiments, M=2-10.

[0147] See also Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of a stimulator provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0148] The stimulator may include, for example, at least one memory 11, at least one processor 12, and a bus 13 connecting different platform systems.

[0149] The memory 11 may include a readable medium in the form of a volatile memory, such as a random access memory (RAM) 111 and / or a cache memory 112 , and may further include a read-only memory (ROM) 113 .

[0150] The memory 11 also stores a computer program, which can be executed by the processor 12 so that the processor 12 implements the above steps.

[0151] The memory 11 may also include a utility 114 having at least one program module 115, such program module 115 including but not limited to: an operating system, one or more application programs, other program modules and program data, each of which or some combination may include the implementation of a network environment.

[0152] Accordingly, the processor 12 may execute the above-mentioned computer program and may execute the utility 114 .

[0153] The processor 12 may adopt one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), DSPs, programmable logic devices (PLDs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other electronic components.

[0154] The bus 13 may be a local bus representing one or more of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, an accelerated graphics port, a processor, or any of a variety of bus architectures.

[0155] The stimulator can also communicate with one or more external devices such as keyboards, pointing devices, Bluetooth devices, etc., and can also communicate with one or more devices that can interact with the stimulator, and / or communicate with any device (such as a router, a modem, etc.) that enables the stimulator to communicate with one or more other computing devices. Such communication can be carried out through the input and output interface 14. In addition, the stimulator can also communicate with one or more networks (such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) and / or a public network, such as the Internet) through a network adapter 15. The network adapter 15 can communicate with other modules of the stimulator through the bus 13. It should be understood that although not shown in the figure, other hardware and / or software modules can be used in conjunction with the stimulator in actual applications, including but not limited to: microcode, device drivers, redundant processors, external disk drive arrays, RAID systems, tape drives, and data backup storage platforms.

[0156] System Example

[0157] The embodiments of the present application also provide a medical system, the specific embodiments of which are consistent with the embodiments recorded in the above method embodiments and the technical effects achieved, and some contents will not be repeated here.

[0158] See also Figure 6 , Figure 6 1 is a structural block diagram of a medical system provided in an embodiment of the present application. The medical system comprises: any one of the above stimulators and a timer, wherein the timer is used to set the control duration.

[0159] In some embodiments, the timer and the switch selection module may be integrated with the stimulator, or the timer and the stimulator may be independently configured.

[0160] In some embodiments, the medical system further comprises:

[0161] A programmable device is arranged outside the patient's body, and is used to generate programmable instructions and send the programmable instructions to the stimulator.

[0162] In some embodiments, the types of diseases that the medical system is used to treat or manage include one or more of the following: spastic disorders, pain, migraine, mental illness, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral disorders, mood disorders, memory disorders, mental state disorders, movement disorders, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease and drug addiction.

[0163] Computer Readable Storage Medium Embodiments

[0164] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, and its specific embodiment is consistent with the technical effects achieved by the above-mentioned embodiment, and some contents are not repeated here.

[0165] The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by at least one processor, the computer program implements the above steps or implements any one of the above functions of the stimulator.

[0166] Computer readable medium can be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. In an embodiment of the present application, a computer readable storage medium can be any tangible medium containing or storing a program, which can be used by an instruction execution system, device or device or used in combination with it. Computer readable storage medium can be, for example, but not limited to, a system, device or device of electricity, magnetism, light, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor, or any combination of the above. More specific examples (non-exhaustive list) of computer readable storage medium include: an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the above.

[0167] The computer-readable storage medium may include a data signal propagated in a baseband or as part of a carrier wave, wherein a readable program code is carried. Such propagated data signals may take a variety of forms, including but not limited to electromagnetic signals, optical signals, or any suitable combination of the above. The computer-readable storage medium may also be any computer-readable medium that can send, propagate, or transmit a program for use by an instruction execution system, an apparatus, or a device or for use in combination with it. The program code contained on the computer-readable storage medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, optical cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the above. The program code for performing the operation of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, C++, etc., and also conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as C language or similar programming languages. The program code may be executed entirely on a user computing device, partially on a user device, as an independent software package, partially on a user computing device, partially on a remote computing device, or entirely on a remote computing device or server. Where a remote computing device is involved, the remote computing device may be connected to the user computing device through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computing device (e.g., through the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0168] Computer Program Product Embodiments

[0169] The embodiment of the present application also provides a computer program product, and its specific embodiment is consistent with the technical effects achieved by the above-mentioned embodiment, and some contents are not repeated here.

[0170] The present application provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program. When the computer program is executed by at least one processor, the computer program implements the above steps or implements any one of the above functions of the stimulator.

[0171] See also Figure 7 , Figure 7 It is a structural diagram of a computer program product provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0172] The computer program product is used to implement the steps of any of the above methods or to implement the functions of any of the above stimulators. The computer program product can adopt a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) and include program code, and can be run on a terminal device, such as a personal computer. However, the computer program product of the present invention is not limited to this, and the computer program product can adopt any combination of one or more computer-readable media.

[0173] This application is explained from the perspectives of purpose of use, effectiveness, progress and novelty, and has met the functional enhancement and usage requirements emphasized by the Patent Law. The above description and drawings of this application are only the preferred embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit this application. Therefore, all structures, devices, features, etc. that are similar or identical to this application, that is, all equivalent replacements or modifications made in accordance with the scope of the patent application of this application, should fall within the scope of protection of the patent application of this application.

Claims

1. A stimulator, characterized in that: The stimulator includes at least one stimulation source, each of which is used to receive program control instructions, generate corresponding stimulation pulse signals and output them to at least one corresponding stimulation contact; The stimulator further comprises a memory and at least one processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the at least one processor is configured to implement the following steps when executing the computer program: Use the timer setting to control the duration; According to the control duration, the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources are adjusted.

2. The stimulator according to claim 1, characterized in that The stimulator includes a stimulation source, and the stimulator also includes a switch selection module. The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of part or all of the stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program: In a stimulation cycle, when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to switch the on-off state of part or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source, so that the stimulation pulse signal of the stimulation source can be output in time-sharing manner.

3. The stimulator according to claim 2, characterized in that The stimulation source is provided with N stimulation contacts, and N adjacent stimulation periods are regarded as a stimulation cycle, where N is a positive integer greater than 1; The at least one processor is configured to use the switch selection module to switch the on-off state of some or all of the stimulation contacts of the stimulation source in the following manner when executing the computer program: In each stimulation cycle of the stimulation cycle, one stimulation contact is selected as the target stimulation contact without repetition each time, and when the timing duration reaches the control duration, the switch selection module is used to control the target stimulation contact to be turned on, and the other N-1 stimulation contacts are turned off.

4. The stimulator according to claim 3, characterized in that N＝2～8。 5. The stimulator according to claim 2, characterized in that The stimulation period is recorded as T, the control time is recorded as t, and 0.2T≤t≤0.8T.

6. The stimulator according to claim 1, characterized in that The stimulator includes a plurality of stimulation sources, and the stimulation pulse signals of each stimulation source have the same frequency; The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program: One of the stimulators is used as a reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control time length, one or more other stimulation sources are controlled to start outputting stimulation pulse signals.

7. The stimulator according to claim 6, characterized in that The stimulator includes a first stimulation source to an Mth stimulation source, the control time is recorded as t, and M is a positive integer greater than 1; The at least one processor is configured to adjust the stimulation pulse signals of some or all stimulation sources according to the control duration in the following manner when executing the computer program: Take the first stimulation source as the reference stimulation source. When the stimulation pulse signal output by the reference stimulation source reaches the control node duration, control the k+1th stimulation source to start outputting the stimulation pulse signal. The control node duration is k*t, where k is an integer and 1≤k≤M-1.

8. The stimulator according to claim 7, characterized in that M＝2～10。 9. A medical system, characterized in that: The medical system includes: A stimulator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The medical system according to claim 9, characterized in that The medical system further comprises: A timer, wherein the timer is used to set a control duration, wherein the timer is integrated with the stimulator, or the timer and the stimulator are set independently.

11. The medical system according to claim 10, characterized in that: The medical system further comprises: A programmable device is arranged outside the patient's body, and is used to generate programmable instructions and send the programmable instructions to the stimulator.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by at least one processor, the function of the stimulator according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is realized.

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