US5012808A
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US
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Pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification system
Assignee: ZION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION A CORP OF GREAT BRITAIN
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Filing: 1988-10-17
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Granted: 1991-05-07
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Expires: 2008-10-17
Abstract
Abstract A pulse generation and tracking system for connection to an object or a subject under treatment therewith, the waveform being a train of repetitive complex pulses each pulse comprising a large amplitude, short duration positive polarity portion and a small amplitude, long duration negative polarity portion, and a zero value portion. The prescribed pulse train for a subject is delivered by a delivery device, which also provides monitoring of the averaged voltage amplitude of the positive portion in terms of either voltage or current value. The impedance of the subject is expected to change over time and cause the individual pulses to vary from predetermined limits. When this occurs, then a subsequent generation of pulses will be changed so that the pulses are again delivered within the predetermined value limits or boundary. Tracking and generation can be operationally crossed, if desired, so that a voltage out of boundary will cause the current of a subsequent pulse to be changed or vice versa.
Inventors
- 👤 Ron Stubbers
- 👤 Chen Chen
- 👤 Malcolm Skolnick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/22; G01R13/34; G01R13/342; G01R19/00; G01R19/25; G01R23/00; G01R23/02; G01R23/10; G01R29/00; G01R29/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification which comprises generating a train of repetitive, substantially identical electrical pulses, each pulse having a predetermined on-set time, pulse structure comprising positive and negative amplitudes, and duration, wherein the parameters determining said pulse on-set time, structure and duration can be changed to accommodate alteration of pulses for application under different conditions, averaging a selected one of the positive and negative amplitudes of a first pulse in said train over the predetermined duration thereof and producing a first fixed averaged pulse value, utilizing said first fixed averaged pulse value obtained from said averaging of said first pulse to modify a selected one of the positive and negative amplitudes of a second pulse, and averaging said amplitude of said second pulse in said train over the predetermined duration thereof and producing a second fixed averaged pulse value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification which comprises generating a train of repetitive, substantially identical electrical pulses, each pulse having a predetermined on-set time, pulse structure comprising positive and negative amplitudes, and duration, wherein the parameters determining said pulse on-set time, structure and duration can be changed to accommodate alteration of pulses for application under different conditions, averaging a selected one of the positive and negative amplitudes of a first pulse in said train over the predetermined duration thereof and producing a first fixed averaged pulse value, utilizing said first fixed averaged pulse value obtained from said averaging of said first pulse to modify a selected one of the positive and negative amplitudes of a second pulse, and averaging said amplitude of said second pulse in said train over the predetermined duration thereof and producing a second fixed averaged pulse value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein the average amplitude of said first pulse is determined by integrating the selected amplitude of said first pulse over the pulse width of said first pulse, and dividing the resulting integrated value by the pulse width of said first pulse, and the average amplitude of said second pulse is determined by integrating the selected amplitude of said second pulse over the pulse width of said second pulse, and dividing the resulting integrated value by the pulse width of said second pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein the average amplitude of said first pulse is determined by sampling of the selected amplitude of said first pulse at its on-set and varying therefrom with a long time constant circuit over the duration of the pulse width of said first pulse, and the average amplitude of said second pulse is determined by sampling of the selected amplitude of said second pulse at its on-set and varying therefrom with a long time constant circuit over the duration of the pulse width of said second pulse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first pulse and said second pulse are separated by at least one intervening pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination , and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shape of said substantially identically shaped pulses are each preestablished to have a rectangular positive polarity portion and a different rectangular negative polarity portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 5, wherein the amplitude of said positive polarity portion is larger than the amplitude of said negative polarity portion and including incrementally modifying the amplitudes of the positive polarity portions of said pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 6, and including respectively modifying the amplitudes of the negative polarity portions of said pulses proportionally incrementally along with the incremental modification of the amplitudes of the positive polarity portions of said pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 7, and including modifying the amplitudes and durations of the negative polarity portions of said pulses along with the modification of the amplitudes of the positive polarity portions so as to maintain energy content equality in the positive polarity portion and in the negative polarity portion of each of said pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, and including displaying said first fixed averaged pulse value on a readout, and subsequently displaying said second fixed averaged pulse value on said readout.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 5, and including determining a predetermined acceptable range for the fixed averaged pulse value for each of said pulses in said train, and compensatingly modifying the generation of the selected pulse amplitude of said second pulse whenever said first selected averaged pulse value is outside of the predetermined acceptable range for said first pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 10, wherein said acceptable range is selectable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 10, and including applying said train to a load, the impedance of which is capable of varying and causing a subsequent pulse to be generated with a fixed averaged pulse value outside of said acceptable range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 12, wherein said load is a transcranial connection to a human being.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 5, wherein compensatingly modifying the generation of said second pulse also includes proportionally modifying the positive polarity portion and the negative polarity portion of said second pulse in each portion whenever said first averaged pulse is outside of the predetermined acceptable range for said first pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 14, wherein said proportional modification of the positive polarity portion and the negative polarity portion maintains the energy content of said positive polarity portion equal to a fixed ratio of the energy content of the negative polarity portion so that the net charge over each entire pulse is equal to a predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 15, wherein the amplitude of said negative polarity portion is modified along with the amplitude of said positive polarity portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein generating each of said pulses includes generating them each to have a positive polarity portion and a negative polarity portion, said positive polarity portion having a relatively large amplitude and a relatively short duration compared with said negative polarity portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 17, wherein each said positive portion and said negative portion are each rectangularly shaped.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 17, wherein the ratio of the integrated value of the positive polarity portion of said pulses expressed as a function of time to the integrated value of the negative polarity portion is set to a predetermined value so that the net charge transferred during the entire pulse is equal to a predetermined value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 19, wherein said predetermined ratio is one so that the net charge delivered by said entire pulse is zero.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second fixed average pulse values are voltage values.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 21, and including determining a predetermined acceptable range for the fixed averaged voltage value for each of said pulses in said train, compensatingly modifying the generation of the selected pulse current amplitude of said second pulse within predetermined limits whenever said first averaged voltage value is outside of the predetermined acceptable range for said first pulse, and indicating when said modification causes said selected pulse current amplitude of said second pulse to reach said predetermined limits.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 21, and including determining a predetermined acceptable range for the fixed averaged voltage value for each of said pulses in said train, compensatingly modifying the generation of the selected pulse voltage amplitude of said second pulse within predetermined limits whenever said selected first averaged voltage value is outside of the predetermined acceptable range for said first pulse, and indicating when said modification causes said selected pulse voltage amplitude of said second pulse to reach said predetermined limits.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 25, and including averaging the selected amplitude of the current of said first pulse in said train over the predetermined duration of said first pulse and producing a first fixed averaged current value, and averaging the selected amplitude of the current of a second pulse in said train over the predetermined duration of said second pulse and producing a second fixed averaged current value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second fixed average pulse values are current values.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 25, and including determining a predetermined acceptable range for the fixed averaged current value for each of said pulses in said train, compensatingly modifying the generation of the selected pulse voltage amplitude of said second pulse within predetermined limits whenever said first averaged current value is outside of the predetermined acceptable range for said first pulse, and indicating when said modification causes said selected pulse voltage amplitude of said second pulse to reach said predetermined limits.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 25, and including determining a predetermined acceptable range for the fixed averaged current value for each of said pulses in said train, compensatingly modifying the generation of the selected pulse current amplitude of said second pulse within predetermined limits whenever said first averaged current value is outside of the predetermined acceptable range for said first pulse, and indicating when said modification causes said selected pulse current amplitude of said second pulse to reach said predetermined limits.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
111 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 25, wherein the selected average amplitude of the voltage of said first pulse is determined by integrating the selected amplitude of the voltage of said first pulse over the pulse width of said first pulse, and dividing the resulting integrated value by the pulse width of said first pulse, and the selected average amplitude of the voltage of said second pulse is determined by integrating the selected amplitude of the voltage of said second pulse over the pulse width of said second pulse, and dividing the resulting integrated value by the pulse width of said second pulse.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 28, including selectively choosing for display between said first fixed averaged current value followed by said second fixed averaged current value and said first fixed averaged voltage value followed by said second fixed average voltage value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, and including determining a predetermined acceptable range for a selected one of the fixed averaged values of voltage and current for each of said pulses in said train, compensatingly modifying the generation of one of the pulse value amplitudes of said second pulse within predetermined limits whenever the selected one of said first pulse fixed averaged value is outside of the predetermined acceptable range, and recording the existence of an error condition caused by said modification reaching said predetermined limits, and generating an error condition signal for the existence of said error condition.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 30, and including transmitting the values of both said voltage fixed averaged value and said current fixed averaged value to a separate monitoring device, and transmitting said error condition to said separate monitoring device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 31, and including transmitting operating status of the generation of said pulses and correctableness of said error condition.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, and including stopping said generation of said pulse train and restarting at the location in said pulse train where generation was stopped.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 1, and including determining if operating parameters of generation and tracking mechanisms are properly calibrated and functionally performing within acceptable, established criteria.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification, comprising encoding pulse parameter information in a storage means, wherein said encoded information comprises, a set of information entitled a header which contains a listing of said encoded information, said encoded information including the total length of said pulse train, the pulse duration, the inter-pulse interval, the pulse width, the acceptable range of average pulse amplitude values, and the ratio of the amplitudes of the positive and negative portions of the pulse, and transferring said encoded pulse parameter information electronically to a pulse generation, parameter generation, and modification means.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
99 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification, comprising encoding pulse parameter information in a storage means, wherein said encoded information comprises, a set of information entitled a header which contains a listing of said encoded information, said encoded information including the total length of said pulse train, the pulse duration, the inter-pulse interval, the pulse width, the acceptable range of average pulse amplitude values, and the ratio of the amplitudes of the positive and negative portions of the pulse, and transferring said encoded pulse parameter information electronically to a pulse generation, parameter generation, and modification means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of electrical pulse generation, parameter determination, and modification in accordance with claim 35, wherein the external storage means is a programmable integrated circuit memory device, and transfer of said encoded information is accomplished by electronically reading said memory device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-06 | 1994-11-05 | 1995-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-06 | 1998-11-05 | 1999-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-06 | 2002-11-05 | 2003-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |