RU2009540C1 - Device for electric stimulation of visual path - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer technology. SUBSTANCE: device has input unit 1, indication unit 2, unit 3 for communication with computer, power unit 4, control unit 5, digital-to-analog converter 6, simulating pulses former 7, which has amplifier 8, demultiplexer 9, two multizone electrodes 10, 11, common electrode 12. Control unit has pulse parameter store 13, generator 14, time intervals forming counter 15, zone number counter 16, eye number counter 17, cycle number counter 18, number of pulses in cycle counter 19, comparison unit 20, number of series reversible counter 21, pulse amplitude setting reversible counter 22, "start" and "stop" regimes setting flip-flop 23, "setting" and "stimulation" regimes setting flip-flop. EFFECT: production of wide range of influences. 3 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to computer technology and can be used in medicine, in particular in ophthalmology, to diagnose diseases of the optic tract and restore vision by percutaneous stimulation of the optic nerve and retina.

 The electrical stimulator is intended for use in medical treatment and prevention institutions for the diagnosis and treatment of the optic tract in cases of traumatic brain injury, partial atrophy of the optic nerves and damage to the retina, intracranial hypertension, central retinal vein thrombosis, non-progressive glaucoma, amblyopia, and some forms of retinal dystrophy.

 Known programmable electrical stimulators that provide a wide range of variations in the parameters of stimulating pulses made on a microprocessor and interfaced with a computer.

 A disadvantage of the known devices is their hardware complexity, which also requires complex software.

 The invention eliminates these disadvantages, allowing you to provide a wide range of effects on the optic tract with a simple device circuit and simple control.

 In FIG. 1 shows a functional diagram of a device; in FIG. 2 and 3 are diagrams of his work.

 The device for electrical stimulation of the optic tract in FIG. 1 comprises an input unit 1 in the form of a keyboard; display unit 2 in the form of a display; block 3 communication with the computer; power supply 4, control unit 5, digital-to-analog converter 6; a stimulating pulse shaper 7, comprising an amplifier 8, a demultiplexer 9; two multi-zone electrodes 11, a common electrode 12.

 The control unit 5 contains a memory 13 of the pulse parameters, a generator 14, a counter 15 for generating time intervals, a counter 16 for the zone number, a counter 17 for the number of eyes, a counter 18 for the number of cycles, a counter 19 for the number of pulses in a cycle, a comparison unit 20, a reversible counter 21 for the number of series, Reversible counter 22 for setting the amplitude of the pulses, trigger 23 for setting the "Start", "Stop" modes, trigger 24 for setting the modes "Installation", "Stimulation".

 The operation of an automatic multi-zone electrical stimulator is as follows.

 Before starting the operation of the device, it is necessary to verify that the electrochemical current sources of unit 4 are in good condition and, if necessary, recharge them by connecting the charger to the network and then disconnecting it.

 Then, the common electrode 12 in the form of a bracelet is fixed on the patient’s hand, and the zonal electrodes 10, 11 are fixed on the upper eyelid of the patient’s right and left eyes.

 By pressing the “Eye” keyboard button, a choice of stimulation is made: the right eye, the left eye, both eyes.

 By pressing the "Setup" button, the stimulation parameter setting mode is activated.

 By successive pressing of the "Zone" button, the number of the electrode zone is set. For each zone, by successively pressing the button “Voltage is more” or “Voltage is less”, the amplitude of stimulation pulses is set, which is stored in step 13. By successive pressing of the button “Impulse” the number of pulses is set in a cycle, and the button “Series” - the number of series in a stimulation session.

 By pressing the "Stimulation" button, the device goes into stimulation mode, as a result of which a sequence of bipolar rectangular pulses of a given amplitude, duration, frequency and duty cycle is formed on each electrode zone.

 Moreover, in accordance with the setup sequence in the "Installation" mode, either simultaneous or sequential stimulation of the patient’s eyes is carried out. Emergency interruption of the installation and stimulation procedure is carried out by the "Stop" button, and the resumption of stimulation by the "Start" button.

 When operating in control mode from an external computer, input of initial data and their indication occurs through a computer via the communication bus of unit 5.

 When connecting an external computer, the device control process can be included in a more general treatment process, including, for example, analysis of patient encephalograms in the stimulation process.

 On the display 2, information is displayed about the operating mode of the device, the start and end of work, emergency stop, about the left or right stimulated eye, the number of the electrode zone, the amplitude of the stimulation pulse, the number of pulses in the cycle, the number of series.

 In the "Setup" mode, the memory 13 remembers the amplitude of the stimulation pulses of each zone of the electrodes, which are converted by analog-to-digital converter 6 into analog signals of the corresponding amplitude and amplified by an amplifier 8. The amplifier 8 is equipped with an input for inverting the polarity of the output signal. The polarity inverting input of amplifier 8 receives clock pulses from the output of block 5, as a result of which bipolar stimulation pulses of equal duration are formed on each electrode zone (see Fig. 2). The distribution of pulses in zones and electrodes is carried out using a demultiplexer 9, to the common input of which pulses are received from the output of amplifier 8, and to address inputs-signals from the output of unit 5.

 In FIG. Figure 2 shows a diagram of stimulating pulses in the Stimulation mode along ten channels for the case when the number of pulses in a cycle is equal to two. In the "Stimulation" mode, pulses follow with a period of 0.1 s alternately for each channel for one cycle.

 In FIG. Figure 3 presents a diagram of the formation of a series of stimulating pulses, which consists of cycles separated by a pause of 1 s. The time interval between series is 60 s.

 The counting inputs of the counters 16, 17, 19 are connected to the "Eye", "Zone", "Pulses" buttons of the keyboard of the input unit 1, the direct counting input of the reversing counter 21 is connected to the "series" keypad, and the direct and reversing counting inputs of the counter 22 are connected with the keyboard buttons "More", "Less." The inputs R of the triggers 23, 24 are connected respectively to the buttons of the Stop and Setup keyboards, and the inputs S of the same triggers are connected to the buttons of the Start, Stimulation keyboards.

 The outputs of the counters 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 and the triggers 23, 24 are connected to the display unit 2. In addition, the outputs of the counter 17 are connected to the address inputs A of the memory 13 and the address input S of the demultiplexer 9. The transfer output P of the counter 17 is connected to the count the input of the counter 18 and the input D of the record counter 15.

 The operation of block 5 is as follows. When the power is turned on, block 4 generates a narrow impulse for setting the trigger elements of the circuit to its initial state. When you press the "Setup" button at the output of trigger 24, a signal is generated that enters the input WR of memory 13, which allows recording the level of stimulation pulses on each zone of each electrode. The eye and zone are selected by successive pressing of the Eye button and the Zone button, while the eye and zone number in binary code is recorded in counters 16, 17, and from their outputs it goes to address input A of memory 13. By successive pressing of the "More" buttons "," Less "the amplitude of the stimulation pulse is recorded in the counter 22 and the output records the data of memory 13. Thus, for each zone of each electrode the required amplitude of the stimulation pulses is set, which is recorded in the memory 13. Then, successively press By pressing the “Impulse” button, the number of stimulation pulses in one cycle is recorded in the counter 19, and by sequentially pressing the “Series” button, the number of series in one stimulation session is recorded in the counter 21. Then, by pressing the "Stimulation" button, the trigger 24 switches and the data recording permission is reset from the input P of the memory 13. After that, by pressing the "Start" button, the stimulation mode is activated. At the same time, the installation signal is removed from the installation input P of counter 15 and the counting of pulses arriving at its counter input from the output of the master oscillator 14 is started. From the output of the first discharge of the counter 15, clock pulses of 5 ms and a period of 10 ms are received at the inverting input of amplifier 8, as a result whereupon bipolar pulses are formed at the output of amplifier 8. From the intermediate outputs of the counter 15, corresponding to the maximum number of stimulation pulses in the cycle, the pulses are fed to the input of block 20, the other input of which receives the number of pulses in the cycle recorded in counter 19. If the codes coming to block 20 correspond to those recorded in the counter 19 the number of pulses in the cycle and the current number of pulses at the output of the counter 15, on the block 20 a signal is generated that goes to the counting input of the counter 16, as a result of which it switches and changes the address of the zone received at the input of memory 13. From the output of the memory device, the number corresponding to the amplitude of the stimulation pulses of this zone is fed to the input of the digital-to-analog converter 6, and from its output to amplifier 8. From the output of amplifier 8, bipolar pulses of a given amplitude are fed to the common input of demultiplexer 9, to the address input of which an address code zones from counters 17, 16.

 Thus, in each zone, a sequence of bipolar pulses of a given amplitude is formed by an amount equal to the number of pulses recorded in counter 16. At the end of the stimulation cycle of each zone, the counter of 16 zones is switched by pulses from block 20.

 After all the zones have been stimulated from the output P of the transfer of the counter 16, the pulse arrives at the input of the counter 17, it switches over, which means a change in the address of the eye and the stimulation procedure is repeated for the second eye. Upon completion of the stimulation of both eyes from the output P of the transfer of the counter 17, the signal enters the input of the counter 18 cycles. At the same time, the transfer signal from the output of the counter 17 is fed to the recording input of the counter 15, as a result of which, at the input E of the prohibition of the demultiplexer 9, a signal of 1 s duration corresponding to a pause between cycles is generated.

 On the interval of the formation of the cycle, the signal from the output of the counter 15, forming a pause between the stimulation pulses with a duration of 0.1 s (see Fig. 2), is sent to the same inhibition input.

 At the end of the first cycle of stimulation, a second one begins, and so on, until the number of cycles determined by the counter of 18 cycles passes, after which a signal is generated at the output P of the transfer of counter 18, which arrives at the reverse input of the counter 21, decreasing by one it is the number of episodes. At the same time, the transfer signal from the output of the counter 18 is fed to the recording input of the counter 15, as a result of which, at the input E of the prohibition of the demultiplexer 9, a pulse with a duration of 60 s corresponding to a pause between series is generated (see Fig. 3).

Upon completion of the first series of stimulation, the second, etc., occurs until the number of series recorded in the series counter 21 is read out. After that, at the output P of the transfer of the counter 21, a signal appears at the R input of the trigger 23, as a result of which it switches to the state corresponding to pressing the Stop button and the stimulation session ends. (56) EP N 0197889, cl. A 61 N 1/36, published. 1980
EP N 0414248, CL A 61 N 1/86, published. 1991.

Claims (1)

 DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE VISUAL TRACT, containing an input unit, the output of which is connected to the input of the control unit, the outputs of which are connected to the inputs of the communication unit with the computer, display unit, digital-to-analog converter and stimulating pulse shaper, the digital-to-analog converter output is connected to the input of the stimulating pulse shaper, which differs by that the control unit contains from the first to fifth counters, the first and second reversible counters, the comparison unit, the first and second triggers, memory, generator or, the generator output is connected to the input of the first counter, the output of which is connected to the input of the comparison unit, the output of which is connected to the input of the second counter, the output of which is connected to the input of the third counter, the output of which is connected to the inputs of the first counter directly and through the fourth counter, the output of which connected to the input of the first trigger, the output of which is connected to the input of the first counter, the output of the fifth counter is connected to the input of the comparison unit, the outputs of the second reversible counter, second trigger, second and third its counters are connected to the memory inputs, the outputs of which, the first, second, third and fifth counters, the first and second triggers, the first and second reversible counters are the outputs of the control unit, the inputs of which are connected to the inputs of the first and second triggers, the first and second reversible counters, second, third and fifth counters.

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