Mandible stimulator

Claim 2

A mandible stimulator for providing controlled electrical stimulation of the multiplicity of muscles innervated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, comprising: a power source, pulsing means connecting to the power source operative to provide output pulse signals, said pulsing means including pulse generator means operative to selectively provide successive spaced pulse bursts including one or more pulses, pulse control means connected to said pulse generator means to control the number of pulses in each said pulse burst, output means for receiving and transmitting said output pulse signals from said pulsing means to the body of a patient including a common output source, said output means further including a dispersal electrode connected to said common output source, right and left electrodes also connected to said common output source for applying electrical impulses to the right and left sides of the face of a patient and adapted to complete a circuit with the dispersal electrode through the body of the patient, and variable resistor means connected between said common output source and one of said right and left electrodes so that the current output through the electrode can be equalized or unbalanced.

Claim 3

The mandible stimulator of claim 1 wherein said pulsing means includes amplitude control means operative to provide an output signal of a predetermined amplitude to said output means and switching means connected to control the passage of said output signal from said amplitude control means, said switching means being controlled by the pulse bursts from said pulse generator means.

Claim 4

The mandible stimulator of claim 2 wherein said pulse generator means includes a first oscillator means operative to provide timing pulses having a first repetition rate, said first oscillator means including a first unijunction transistor having an emitter electrode and a timing capacitor connected to said emitter electrode to control the timing pulse repetition rate of said first oscillator means, second oscillator means operative to provide output pulses having a repetition rate greater than that of said timing pulses, said second oscillator means including a second unijunction transistor having an emitter electrode, an emitter load circuit connected to supply power to said emitter electrode, and timing capacitor means connected to said emitter electrode, said timing capacitor means operating with said emitter load circuit to control the repetition rate of said output pulses, and pulse control switching means connected between said first and second oscillator means and rendered alternately conductive and nonconductive by said timing pulses to activate and deactivate said second oscillator means, said control sWitching means including a switching transistor having a collector-emitter circuit connected to said emitter load circuit for the second unijunction transistor, and a base electrode connected to the timing capacitor for said first oscillator means, said switching transistor operating when conductive to deactivate said second oscillator means.

Claim 5

The mandible stimulator of claim 3 wherein said pulse control means is connected to the base electrode of said switching transistorto vary the nonconduction time of said switching transistor.

Claim 6

The mandible stimulator of claim 1 wherein said pulse generator means includes first oscillator means operative to provide timing pulses having a first repetition rate, second oscillator means operative to provide output pulses having a repetition rate greater than that of said timing pulses, and pulse control switching means connected between said first and second oscillators and rendered alternately conductive and nonconductive by said timing pulses, said pulse control switching means operating when conductive to deactivate said second oscillator means, and when nonconductive to permit operation of said second oscillator means.

Claim 7

The mandible stimulator of claim 3 wherein said pulse control means is connected to vary the nonconduction time of said pulse control switching means.

Claim 8

The mandible stimulator of claim 1 including test means adapted for selective connection to said output means, said test means including circuit means to provide D.C. power from said power source to said output means and being operative upon connection to said output means to indicate the external resistance by the body of a patient to pulse transmission by said output means.

Claim 9

The mandible stimulator of claim 7 wherein said test means includes current indicator means, circuit means to provide D.C. power from said power source to said dispersal electrode and current indicator means, and switching means for connecting said current indicator means to said right and left electrodes.

Claim 10

A mandible stimulator for providing controlled electrical stimulation of the multiplicity of muscles innervated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, comprising: a power source, pulsing means connecting to said power source operative to provide output pulse signals, said pulsing means including (1) a first oscillator means operative to provide timed pulses having a first repetition rate, said first oscillator means including a first unijunction transistor having an emitter electrode and a timing capacitor connected to said emitter electrode to control the timing pulse repetition rate of said first oscillator means, (2) second oscillator means operative to provide output pulses having a repetition rate greater than that of the said timing pulses, said second oscillator means including a second unijunction transistor having an emitter electrode, (3) an emitter load circuit connected to supply power to said emitter electrode, said timing capacitor means operating with said emitter load circuit to control the repetition rate of said output pulses, and (5) pulse control switching means connected between said first and second oscillator means and rendered alternately conductive and non-conductive by said timing pulses to activate and deactivate said second oscillator means, said control switching means including (a) a switching transistor having a collector-emitter circuit connected to said emitter load circuit for the second unijunction transistor, (b) a base electrode connected to the timing capacitor for said first oscillator means, said switching transistor operating when conductive to deactivate said second oscillator means; said pulsing means further including amplitude control means connected to said power source operative to provide an output signal of a predetermined amplitude, said amplitude control means including an output capacitor, a transistor pair connected in common emitter-follower configuration to proVide charging current from said power source to said capacitor, a variable resistor means connected to said power source and said transistor pair to control the charge on said output capacitor, an output transformer having a primary winding connecting to said output capacitor, and a secondary winding connected to said output means, and a controlled transistor means having a collector-emitter circuit connected to said primary winding and a base electrode connected to recieve output pulse signals, said control transistor means operating to control the current flow from said output capacitor through said primary winding, pulse control means connected to said pulsing means to control the number of pulses in each said pulse burst, output means connected to said secondary winding for receiving and transmitting said output pulse signals from said pulsing means to the body of a patient, the output means including an electrode circuit adapted for applying electrical impulses to the right and left sides of the face of a patient to stimulate the fifth and seventh cranial nerves thereof.

Claim 11

A mandible stimulator for providing controlled electrical stimulation of the multiplicity of muscles innervated by the fifth and seventh cranial nerves, comprising: a power source, pulsing means connecting to said power source operative to provide output pulse signals, said pulsing means including (1) a first oscillator means operative to provide timed pulses having a first repetition rate, said first oscillator means including a first unijunction transistor having an emitter electrode and a timing capacitor connected to said emitter electrode to control the timing pulse repetition rate of said first oscillator means, (2) second oscillator means operative to provide output pulses having a repetition rate greater than that of the said timing pulses, said second oscillator means including a second unijunction transistor having an emitter electrode, (3) an emitter load circuit connected to supply power to said emitter electrode, said timing capacitor means operating with said emitter load circuit to control the repetition rate of said output pulses, and (5) pulse control switching means connected between said first and second oscillator means and rendered alternately conductive and non-conductive by said timing pulses to activate and deactivate said second oscillator means, said control switching means including (a) a switching transistor having a collector-emitter circuit connected to said emitter load circuit for the second unijunction transistor, (b) a base electrode connected to the timing capacitor for said first oscillator means, said switching transistor operating when conductive to deactivate said second oscillator means; said pulsing means further including amplitude control means connected to said power source operative to provide an output signal of a predetermined amplitude, said amplitude control means including an output capacitor, a transistor pair connected in common emitter-follower configuration to proVide charging current from said power source to said capacitor, a variable resistor means connected to said power source and said transistor pair to control the charge on said output capacitor, an output transformer having a primary winding connecting to said output capacitor, and a secondary winding connected to said output means, and a controlled transistor means having a collector-emitter circuit connected to said primary winding and a base electrode connected to recieve output pulse signals, said control transistor means operating to control the current flow from said output capacitor through said primary winding, pulse control means connected to said pulsing means to control the number of pulses in each said pulse burst, output means connected to said secondary winding for receiving and transmitting said output pulse signals from said pulsing means to the body of a patient, the output means including an electrode circuit adapted for applying electrical impulses to the right and left sides of the face of a patient to stimulate the fifth and seventh cranial nerves thereof.

Claim 12

The mandible stimulator of claim 9 wherein said pulse control means includes a plurality of control resistors connected in series with the base electrode of said switching transistor, electrical terminals between each of said control resistors, and switching means for connecting one of said electrical terminals to said power source to alter the resistance at the base of said switching transistor to vary the off time thereof.

Claim 13

The mandible stimulator of claim 9 wherein said pulse control means includes a second capacitor connected to the timing capacitor in the emitter circuit of said second unijunction transistor, said switching means being operative to selectively connect said second capacitor to the emitter of said second unijunction transistor.

Claim 14

The mandible stimulator of claim 9 wherein said output means includes a dispersal electrode connected to receive signals from the secondary winding of said output transformer, right and left electrodes adapted to complete a circuit with said dispersal electrode through the body of a patient, and switching means connected between said secondary winding and said first and second electrodes.

Claim 15

The mandible stimulator of claim 12 wherein a test means is provided and includes current indicator means, circuit means to provide D.C. power from said power source to the secondary winding of said output transformer and current indicator means, said switching means being operative to disconnect said first and second electrodes from said secondary winding and connect said first and second electrodes to said current indicator means.

Claim 16

The mandible stimulator of claim 13 wherein said switching means is selectively operative to complete a circuit to both said first and second electrodes simultaneously or to either of said first and second electrodes individually.