130 results about "Electric stimulus" patented technology

Techniques for characterizing a molecule are described herein. In one example, a portion of the molecule is trapped in a nanopore, a variable voltage is applied across the nanopore until the trapped portion of molecule is moved within the nanopore, and the molecule is characterized based on the electrical stimulus required to affect movement of at least a portion of the trapped portion of the molecule within the nanopore.

A method for measuring a neural response to a stimulus. Measurement circuitry is settled prior to a stimulus, by connecting a sense electrode to the measurement circuitry to allow the measurement circuitry to settle towards a bio-electrically defined steady state. Charge is recovered on stimulus electrodes by short circuiting the stimulus electrodes to each other. An electrical stimulus is then applied from the stimulus electrodes to neural tissue, while keeping the sense electrode disconnected from the measurement circuitry. After the stimulus, a delay is imposed during which the stimulus electrodes are open circuited and the sense electrode is disconnected from the measurement circuitry and from the stimulus electrodes. After the delay, a neural response signal present at the sense electrode is measured by connecting the sense electrode to the measurement circuitry.

System includes a sensor operably coupled to a device body. The sensor includes a sensing region and at least one resonant inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) circuit. The sensing region is configured to be placed in operational contact with an industrial fluid. The at least one resonant LCR circuit is configured to generate an electrical stimulus that is applied to the industrial fluid via electrodes at the sensing region. The device body includes one or more processors configured to receive an electrical signal from the sensor that is representative of a resonant impedance spectral response of the sensing region in operational contact with the industrial fluid responsive to the electrical stimulus. The one or more processors are further configured to analyze the resonant impedance spectral response and determine both a water concentration in the industrial fluid and an aging level of the industrial fluid based on the resonant impedance spectral response.

A system includes a resonant sensor in contact with oil within a gearbox of a rotor system, such as a wind turbine, and one or more processors. The sensor includes electrodes and a sensing circuit that generates electrical stimuli having frequencies applied to the oil at different times during a life of the gearbox. The processors receive electrical signals from the resonant sensor representative of impedance responses of the oil to the electrical stimuli. The processors analyze the impedance responses and determine a concentration of a polar analyte in the oil at different times. The processors calculate a degradation value for the gearbox based on the concentration of the polar analyte. Responsive to the degradation value exceeding a designated threshold, the processors at least one of schedule maintenance for the rotor system, provide an alert to schedule maintenance, or prohibit operation of the rotor system until maintenance is performed.

A digital subscriber loop line card-installed mechanism conducts parametric measurements on the wireline to which the line card is connected, and adjusts taps of an echo cancellation operator in accordance with the response of the wireline to an electrical stimulus imparted to the wireline. The echo canceler tap coefficients are then processed to determine the location of a fault, such as a short circuit, open-circuit and the like, on the wireline. Fault information measurement data is then reported to a supervisory control location, which dispatches the appropriate technician to resolve the cause of the problem.

The object of the present invention is to provide a linear device which is very thin, can be inserted into a desired region of a subject, and minimizes the damage to the subject. The linear device is a linear member, which comprises a base layer extending in the axial directions of the linear member and a plurality of layers formed on the base layer and extending in the axial directions of the linear member. Two or more of said plurality of layers are conductive layers and two or more of said plurality of layers are insulating layers. Each insulating layer is disposed between the conductive layers. When the linear device is embedded in or its front end is inserted into a region of a subject, electric stimuli can be given to the region and the electric resistance of the region can be measured. Because the linear device is very thin, pain or uncomfortable feeling at the region is slight when it is inserted or embedded in a region of the human body or the like.

An artificial eye system may include an extracorporeal unit mounted outside a user's body and an intracorporeal unit 3 mounted inside a user's eye. The extracorporeal unit 2 may include a visor and a power supply unit. The visor may include a primary coil, an image receiving element that receives a picture image, a light emitting element that transmits an electric stimulus signal produced based on an image signal from the image receiving element, and an eye-gaze point recognizing unit. The intracorporeal unit may include a secondary coil that is electro-magnetically induced by the primary coil, a light receiving element that receives the electric stimulus signal from the light emitting element, a signal processing circuit that processes the electric stimulus signal received by the light receiving element, and a plurality of electrodes that transmits the electric stimulus signal processed by the signal processing circuit to the retina.

An evaluation apparatus is taught to nondestructively characterize the electroluminescence behavior of the semiconductor-based or organic small-molecule or polymer-based light-emitting material as the finished light-emitting device functions through electroluminescence. An electrode probe is used to temporarily form a light-emitting device through forming an intimate electrical contact to the surface of the light emitting material. A testing system is provided for applying an electrical stimulus to the electrode probe and temporarily formed device and for measuring the electrical and optical / electroluminescence response to the electrical stimulus. The electrical and optical properties of the light-emitting material can be nondestructively determined from the measured response. Optionally a light stimulus is used to perform the photoluminescence characterization together with the electroluminescence characterization, and both characterizations can be performed at the same sample location or / and at the wafer level.

A multi-probe assembly includes a chuck assembly configured to receive a back or front surface of a semiconductor wafer. A multi-probe holder has a plurality of probes each having an elastically deformable conductive tip movable into contact with a front surface of a dielectric or a front surface of a semiconducting material. A means applies an electrical stimulus to each tip, measures a response to the electrical stimulus, and determines at least one electrical property of the dielectric and / or the semiconducting material. A method for measuring at least one electrical property applies a probe (or plurality of probes) having an elastically deformable conductive tip to a scribe line(s). An electrical stimulus is applied to the probe or one of the probes with the remaining probes grounded. A response to the electrical stimulus is measured and at least one electrical property of the semiconductor wafer is determined from the response.

The present invention relates to a method for direct diagnosis and treatment of a patient with a pain of muscular origin. The method comprises: a) applying an electric stimulus to a muscle in a suspected area of pain, using a neuromuscular stimulator; b) recording the patient's response to the stimulus; c) repeating steps a) and b) in a different area with resultant decrease in discomfort; d) repeating a), b) and c) to find a point of maximal sensitivity; and e) effectively treating the point of maximum sensitivity.

A tactile-stimulus generation apparatus is enabled to apply an electric stimulus to a fingertip of a user, and a tactile-stimulus generation sheet configured by arranging a tactile-sensation generation electrode group on an insulating layer is installed on a front surface of a capacitive type coordinate input device. The tactile-sensation generation electrode group is distributed at positions where tactile-sensation generation electrodes overlap first or second electrodes of the coordinate input device as seen in plan view. If the fingertip is in proximity with the insulating layer, the fingertip is capacitively coupled to positive and negative electrodes of the tactile sensation generation electrode group to which a differential voltage is applied, and thus, a portion of a current directing from the positive electrode to the negative electrode passes through the fingertip, so that an electric stimulus is applied to the user due to the current.

The invention discloses a multi-function animal weight-losing running table and a control system thereof. The running table comprises a running machine, a weight-losing support device and a recovery robot. Running training or combination training of running training and electric stimulus is performed on the experimental animal by arranging organic glass and a stimulating electrode on the running machine; and the weight-losing running table training combining running table training and weight-losing support is performed on the experimental animal by arranging the weight-losing support device on the running machine. In the process of weight-losing running table training, the recovery robot can assist hind legs of the experimental animal in doing exercise training, so that a correct or preset training task is provided for a passive training model, the movement locus of the hind legs in the positive training model is recorded and the record is used for quantitatively evaluating the exercising function. The invention also provides a medicinal animal experiment device which is mainly used for walking function recovery of the experimental animal with hurt spinal cord and providing the animal running table training needed by sports medicine.

An electronic apparatus (1) for training an animal is supported against the animal's skin, and includes stimulus electrodes (5) for electrically contacting the skin. A controller including output terminals producing aversive stimulus control signals, a first switch (Q4) coupled to a winding to produce therein a burst of first current pulses in response to a first signal produced by the controller (33) and a second switch (Q2) coupled to the first switch (Q4) operative to synchronously shunt predetermined trailing portions of the first current pulses away from the winding in response to a second signal produced by the controller to reduce the amount of energy delivered to the winding by the switching transistor (Q4) without substantially changing a peak value of a flyback voltage across the winding. The controller sets various values of time intervals during which portions of the first current pulses are shunted away from the winding in order to set various corresponding intensities of aversive stimulus.

An electrostimulator comprises a boost circuit supplying a stimulus signal, first and second electrodes disposed on a skin surface, detecting a voluntary myoelectric signal and giving the stimulus signal, an amplification circuit amplifying the voluntary myoelectric signal, a controller controlling the stimulus signal in accordance with the voluntary myoelectric signal, an H-bridge circuit comprising first and third switches connected in series and connected to the second electrode, and second and fourth switches connected in series and connected to the first electrode, the first to the fourth switches being connected in parallel, an isolated DC-DC converter supplying a power to the controller and the amplification circuit, a regulator outputting a midpoint voltage of a power-supply voltage, and a third electrode connected to the regulator and a reference terminal of the amplification circuit and disposed on the skin surface.

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for stimulating and / or measuring visceral pain in a bodily hollow system of a human being or an animal. The method and apparatus is especially well suited for multi-modal stimulation and measuring, where different stimulus modalities are integrated into one stimulus device. The stimuli may be any one or more of the stimuli: mechanical stimulus, thermal stimulus, chemical stimulus and electric stimulus. The stimuli may activate superficial and deeper layers of the hollow system. Distinct responses to the individual stimuli and robust stimulus-response relations are obtained and result in the possibility of comparative studies of different visceral sensations.

A male chastity device utilizes sensors to detect sexual arousal, sexual activity, and / or attempts to tamper with or remove the device. It reports sensed data and / or employs an aversive electric stimulus to discourage the detected unwanted behaviors. The male chastity apparatus includes a structural element wearable on male genital anatomy, and at least one sensor for detecting unwanted activity relating to the male genital anatomy. The apparatus can also include at least two electrodes capable of delivering aversive stimulation to the male genital anatomy. The at least two electrodes can also be capable of delivering pleasurable stimulation to the male genital anatomy. The structural element can also include electrodes for electrically preventing or electrically inhibiting removal of the structural element from the male anatomy.

The invention relates to a medicament automatic injection lead-in system with an electronic stimulating function, which comprises a handheld shell, an injector, an automatic microinjector and a control consol, wherein the injector is arranged in the handheld shell; the automatic microinjector is connected with the injector; and the control console is electrically connected with the automatic microinjector. The medicament automatic injection lead-in system is characterized in that: an electric stimulator is arranged in the handheld shell and electrically connected with the control consol; and a singlechip with multiple interfaces is arranged in the control consol. The automatic medicament injection control and electric stimulus are combined by the singlechip, a signal is sent to trigger the electronic stimulator after the medicament is automatically injected, and the generated electric pulse signal is transmitted to a receptor tissue, so the permeability of the cell membranes of the tissue and the medicament absorption ratio of cells are improved.

A capsule type medical device system comprising a means (4) for detecting the position of a capsule type medical device (2) introduced into an organism, an electrode (5) disposed in proximity to the outer surface of the capsule type medical device (2) and imparting an electric stimulus to the tissue of the organism, and a means (6) for controlling a current fed to the electrode (5) wherein the control means (6) controls the current fed to the electrode (5) according to positional information detected by the position detecting means (4).

The external event detection device comprises an electronic unit (22) and an external event sensor (16), the electronic unit having at least a non-volatile memory cell (24, T1) in which data relative to at least one external event detected by the external event sensor can be stored. According to the invention, the external event sensor defines an energy harvester that transforms energy from said at least one external event into electrical energy contained in an electrical stimulus pulse provided to the electronic unit. The electronic unit is arranged for storing said data by using only the electrical energy contained in the electrical stimulus pulse. In particular, the non-volatile memory cell is directly set to its written logical state from its initial logical state by the electrical stimulus pulse provided by said energy harvester. In a preferred embodiment, the electronic unit further comprises a set circuit (26) comprising a second FET transistor (T2) arranged between the ground of the electronic unit and the drain of a first FET transistor (T1) defining the non-volatile memory cell, this switch having a control gate connected to the control gate of the first FET transistor. The second FET transistor is turned on when an electrical stimulus pulse is provided to the electronic unit, connecting the drain (DRN) of the first FET transistor (T1) to ground and thus allowing the secure setting of the non-volatile memory cell.

The invention discloses a method for promoting growth of GOSS textures of silicon steel strips by using pulse current. The method comprises the following steps of: conveying the silicon steel strips at the speed of 2 to 10 meters per minute under the drive of a conveying device; and guiding the pulse current of a pulse power supply to a moving silicon steel strip electrifying zone through a pair of electric contact devices, and performing electric stimulation treatment on the silicon steel strip electrifying zone in air atmosphere to promote the generation of a large amount of GOSS textures in the primary re-crystallization process, wherein the silicon steel strips are in a high magnetic induction cold-rolled state, the thickness of the silicon steel strips is 0.1 to 0.5 millimeter, the width of the silicon steel strips is 10 to 150 millimeters and the silicon content of the silicon steel strips is 0.5 to 6.5 percent. Compared with the traditional thermal treatment furnace annealing treatment process, the method has the advantages of low energy consumption, high production efficiency and low production cost, and the GOSS textures in the primary re-crystallization process have manycomponents. By electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) detection, the GOSS texture content of the silicon steel strips treated by adopting electric stimulation of the pulse current reaches 15 to 25 percent.

The invention discloses a digital pillow type device for remedying the head sleeping posture by identifying stertor signals, which comprises a pillow body, wherein four air sacs are arranged in the pillow body and respectively connected with a miniature inflator pump and an air pressure sensor; each air pressure sensor is respectively connected with an electric damping exhaust valve; a sound collector for collecting sound is arranged in the pillow body and connected with an amplifying and filter circuit for preprocessing sound signals; the amplifying and filter circuit is connected with a digital signal processing device; and the digital signal processing device is connected with each air pressure sensor and each electric damping exhaust valve. The pillow type device has reasonable structure, does not apply electric stimulus and mechanical stimulus or the limitation of an additional appliance, guarantees the natural sleeping posture and depth of a sleeper, and is more beneficial to the health sleeping.

The invention discloses an electric cochlea speech processor and processing method with signal compression in a wide dynamic range. The electric cochlea speech processing method comprises the following steps that: a processing unit performs pre-emphasis processing and frequency division processing on transmitted acoustic signals by a frequency division module, and processing results are combined into M channels; according to a comfortable threshold parameter or a perception threshold parameter measured in advance of the M channels of an electric cochlea implanted person, a compression unit calculates an acoustic signal intensity parameter corresponding to an electric stimulation perception threshold or an acoustic signal intensity parameter corresponding to a comfortable threshold by an acoustic-electric compression function; then by adopting the parameter as an inflection point, and according to a compression curve in the wide dynamic range enveloped by a frequency spectrum, the compression unit calculates sound intensity after compression of each channel; and finally, after wide-dynamic compression, output sound intensity is subjected to acoustic-electric stimulus compression and then is output. The electric cochlea speech processor enhances signal processing efficiency and improves individual speech recognition ability of the electric cochlea implanted person.

The invention discloses an electric pulse generating device and a control method thereof; the device comprises a controller and a probe, wherein, the probe has a pulse generating circuit used for generating electric pulse, and the controller controls the probe in a wireless communication way. The invention adopts the wireless communication control way to realize a portable electric generating device with the electric stimulus probe and the controller completely separated, the integration level thereof is high, the cost is low, the application environment is unrestrictive, and the enclosed type independent probe is easy to sterilize, thus eliminating the potential hazard of electric shock and leading the whole device to be more convenient and safer to use.

The invention discloses a vector impedance feedback based self-adaption multichannel transcutaneous electrical stimulator and belongs to the field of the biological, mechanical and electrical integration technology. The vector impedance feedback based self-adaption multichannel transcutaneous electrical stimulator aims at solving the problems that the existing transcutaneous electrical stimulator is insufficient in reliability and has potential risks. According to the scheme, a controller firstly sends an impedance measurement command to a DDS chip, a signal multiplexing circuit and an electrode multiplexing circuit and the DDS chip outputs impedance measurement signals to a vector impedance measurement exciting circuit and impedance measurement exciting signals to electrodes through the signal multiplexing circuit; meanwhile a vector impedance measurement feedback circuit feeds back an electrode-skin impedance measurement result to the controller; the controller adjusts contact states of the electrodes and the skin according to the measurement result and accordingly adjusts electrical stimulus parameters to change the electrode-skin impedance to enable the stimulator to be in a transcutaneous electrical stimulation state when safety conditions are satisfied; the controller then gives out a transcutaneous electrical stimulation command and an electrical stimulation circuit outputs electrical stimulation currents to the electrodes and performs transcutaneous electrical stimulation on human bodies.

An evaluation apparatus is taught to nondestructively characterize the electroluminescence behavior of the semiconductor-based or organic small-molecule or polymer-based light-emitting material as the finished light-emitting device functions through electroluminescence. An electrode probe is used to temporarily form a light-emitting device through forming an intimate electrical contact to the surface of the light emitting material. A testing system is provided for applying an electrical stimulus to the electrode probe and temporarily formed device and for measuring the electrical and optical / electroluminescence response to the electrical stimulus. The electrical and optical properties of the light-emitting material can be nondestructively determined from the measured response. Optionally a light stimulus is used to perform the photoluminescence characterization together with the electroluminescence characterization, and both characterizations can be performed at the same sample location or / and at the wafer level.

An apparatus and method for conferring a therapeutic current to the heart is provided. The apparatus includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a current generator and a controller. The apparatus may further include a sensor. The sensor is generally configured to measure field strength between the first and second electrode. The sensor may also monitor the cardiac cycle. The method includes applying an electric stimulus to the heart and sensing the electric field generated by the electric stimulus to prevent the level of current from inducing unwanted depolarization.

A method for dynamically modifying electrical characteristics of a radome (110). The method can interpose a radome (110) in the path of a radio frequency signal (140). At least one electrical characteristic of the radome (110) can be selectively varied by applying an energetic stimulus to dynamically modify a performance characteristic of the radome (110). Electrical characteristic can include a permittivity, a permeability, a loss tangent, and / or a reflectivity. The energetic stimulus can include an electric stimulus, a photonic stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, and / or a thermal stimulus.