Electrical Stimulation Pulse Supply Control for Charge Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical stimulation devices face challenges in miniaturization and cost due to the need for large DC-blocking capacitors per electrode, which are required to prevent continuous current flow, and lack a simplified method for high-degree charge balancing.
Innovation Solution
The use of two or more stimulation energy supplies that provide electrical energy concurrently or consecutively with controlled polarity and amplitude ratios, eliminating the need for precise current and voltage control, thereby reducing hardware complexity and size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DC-blocking capacitors are included in series with each stimulating electrode to prevent continuous current flow, then safety and regulatory compliance are improved, but device size and cost increase due to the physically large capacitors required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DC-blocking function from traditional large physical capacitors and implements it through a software-controlled charge balancing algorithm. The pulse generator delivers monophasic stimulation pulses and then applies a balancing pulse with opposite polarity to remove residual charge, achieving the same safety function without requiring large physical capacitors at each electrode.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical DC-blocking capacitor system with a software-based charge balancing control system. Instead of using physical components to block DC current, the system uses controlled electrical pulses with alternating polarity to actively manage and neutralize residual charge, substituting hardware complexity with algorithmic control.
2Reliability
If DC-blocking capacitors are included in series with each stimulating electrode to reduce continuous current flow, then charge blocking is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to one capacitor per electrode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal charge balancing mechanism that works across all electrodes through a single software algorithm. Instead of each electrode requiring its own dedicated DC-blocking capacitor, the system uses a general-purpose charge balancing routine that can be applied to any electrode configuration, making the solution scalable and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hardware-based DC-blocking capacitor system with a software-based charge balancing control system. Instead of using physical components to block DC current, the system uses controlled electrical pulses with alternating polarity to actively manage and neutralize residual charge, substituting hardware complexity with algorithmic control.
3Reliability
If conventional charge balancing methods are used to maintain zero-charge residual at the stimulation site, then safety is improved, but hardware complexity increases due to the need for precise current and voltage control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameters from requiring precise current and voltage control to using simplified pulse width and polarity control. The charge balancing algorithm adjusts the duration and polarity of balancing pulses rather than precisely controlling amplitude, reducing the complexity of the control system while maintaining effective charge balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the hardware-based DC-blocking capacitor system with a software-based charge balancing control system. Instead of using physical components to block DC current, the system uses controlled electrical pulses with alternating polarity to actively manage and neutralize residual charge, substituting hardware complexity with algorithmic control.
Data Source
AI summary
Conventional devices deliver a degree of electrical charge into biological tissues; to satisfy regulatory and safety concerns, measures are taken to maintain a zero-charge residual at the stimulation site.Disclosed herein is a method of controlling electrical energy provided by a stimulation device to one or stimulation electrodes comprised in the device, the device including: a first stimulation electrode; a pulse energy controller for transferring electrical energy as one or more electrical stimulation pulses to the first stimulation electrode; the pulse energy controller further including two or more stimulation energy supplies for each supplying electrical energy substantially concurrently to the first stimulation electrode as a first pulse; and each supplying electrical energy separately to the first stimulation electrode as a second pulse.A simpler, more accurate and less-expensive control of stimulation may be provided by considering each energy supply as an energy building block, which may be selected as required.