Multi-Channel Neurostimulation Pulse Overlap Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current neurostimulation systems face challenges in simultaneously controlling multiple stimulation channels with shared electrical sources, leading to potential overlap of electrical pulses and ineffective or harmful treatment due to frequency locking and other issues.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel neurostimulation system with stimulation output circuitry and control circuitry that allows for independent operation of multiple timing channels by serially coupling electrical sources to different electrode sets, preventing pulse overlap and enabling simultaneous generation of pulsed electrical waveforms with different frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple stimulation channels share electrical sources to reduce device complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but pulse overlap and frequency locking occur leading to unreliable stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical sources into multiple independent sources, with each source dedicated to a specific stimulation channel. This segmentation prevents pulse overlap and frequency locking between channels, as each channel operates independently with its own electrical source, thereby maintaining stimulation reliability while managing device complexity through organized independence.
2Reliability
If multiple independent electrical sources are provided for each stimulation channel to prevent pulse overlap, then stimulation reliability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a centralized control circuitry that serves multiple stimulation channels, providing universal control functionality across all channels. This multi-functional control system manages multiple electrical sources and timing channels without requiring separate control units for each channel, thereby improving stimulation reliability through independent channel operation while limiting the increase in device complexity through shared control architecture.
3Manufacturing precision
If electrical sources are serially coupled to electrode sets to prevent pulse overlap, then pulse timing precision is improved, but the system requires complex switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a switch bank as an intermediary component between the electrical sources and electrode sets. This switch bank acts as a mediator that serially couples electrical sources to appropriate electrode sets based on control signals from the control circuitry, enabling precise pulse timing control while managing the complexity of switching mechanisms through a dedicated intermediary component rather than integrating switching logic throughout the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi - channel neurostimulation system (10) comprises a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes (26), stimulation output circuitry (14) including electrical source circuitry of the same polarity configured for generating a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms in a plurality of timing channels, and control circuitry configured for instructing the stimulation output circuitry to serially couple the electrical source circuitry to different sets of the electrodes (26) when pulses of the respective pulsed electrical waveforms do not temporally overlap each other, and for instructing the stimulation output circuitry to couple the electrical source circuitry to a union of the different electrode sets when pulses of the respective pulsed electrical waveforms temporally overlap each other.