Wearable, battery-powered, wireless, programmable 8-channel neural stimulator

Abstract

In this paper, a wearable, battery-powered, low-power, low-size, cost-efficient, fully programmable neural stimulator is presented. The system comprises a wearable stimulator module and an external controller. To receive the settings required for the operation of the system, the wearable module is programmed through wireless connection to the external controller. Implemented using off-the-shelf components, the wearable neural stimulator weighs 60 g and measures 9 cm × 5 cm × 2 cm. The system is capable of generating independent biphasic stimulations on 8 channels with programmable amplitudes and timings. The neural stimulator consumes about 1.5 mW in the power-down mode and about 51.2 mW in the active mode when all the 8 channels are active. For in-vivo experiments, the system was used to stimulate motor cortex of an anesthetized rat fixed in a stereotaxic instrument.

Three Patterns Programmable Russian Form Functional Electrical Stimulator

“…In order to investigate the effect of such alternating electrical stiumulaiton, comparison to other wave forms were made in these researches [17][18]. Other forms of electrical stimulaitons have also been developed [2], [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. In terms of charge, phase, and form, the developed electrical stimulations can be classified as it is shown in Table 1.…”

“…Rectangular and triangular waveforms are not amongst the programmable or fixed protocols and it is not mentioned whether they have applied the modulation of waves priniciple for the generation of Russian form of stimulating waves. In these studies, [2], [4][5], [7], [9], [11][12] micro-controllers are also used. It is just in this work [9], that rectangular and triangular wave forms are generated amongst 6 distinct wave forms.…”

“…Electrical stimulators are designed and developed in previous studies [2], [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. A microcontroller is used for the generation of a electrical stimulation in [2], [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

“…A microcontroller is used for the generation of a electrical stimulation in [2], [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The convenience of micro-contrllers have made these devices also popular in other applications [14][15].…”

Energy-Efficient SMPS-Based Pulse Generator for Neurostimulators

“…Boost converters are most prevalent in medical implants due to their high efficiency [3] to obtain a large intermediate voltage and analogue circuitry to administer the required stimulation. References [4,5,6,2,7] have focused their efforts on using boost converters or configurations that involve the boost converter to improve the Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) efficiency. In the same vein, switched-capacitor networks have also been used to step-up the input voltage and a current mirror array to deliver precise pulses to the patient [8].…”