System and method to obstruct propagation of electromagnetic radiation induced in implanted body electrodes

Abstract

A device to improve the safety of neuronal, heart, muscle and organ electrical stimulation devices during MRI scanning. The device consists of means to disconnect the electrical stimulation device, the battery pack and controlling electronics from the connecting wires, while, concomitantly, introducing an extra network to dissipate the induced radio frequency energy with the objective of preventing the build-up of electric potential (usually called voltage in US) at the switch gap, with consequently destruction of the switch.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for mitigating the effects of an electromagnetic energy induction device on an implanted electrical stimulating device, the system comprising:
 a first electrical network comprising one or more electrodes implanted at a first location, the one or more electrodes connected in series with at least one first electrical switch at a first location;   an electrical energy storage means and electronics controlling unit implanted at a second location, wherein the energy storage means and electronics controlling unit are connected in series with at least one second electrical switch at a second location;   an electrical conducting means, connecting the one or more electrodes in series with the at least one first electrical switch at the first location, to the electrical energy storage means and the electronics controlling unit in series with the at least one second electrical switch at the second location;   wherein a second electrical network comprising at least one energy dissipating device in parallel connection with the one or more electrodes and in parallel with the electrical energy storage means and the electronics controlling unit, is configured to dissipate the energy induced in the electrical stimulating device by the electromagnetic energy induction device.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy storage means and the electronics controlling unit are implanted at separate locations. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first electrical switch is configured to provide electrical continuity for electrical current flow, or to interrupt the electrical current flow between the one or more electrodes and the electrical conducting means, and the at least one second electrical switch is configured to provide electrical continuity for electrical current flow, or to interrupt the electrical current flow between the electric storage means and the controlling electronics unit and the electrical conducting means. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the continuity states of the at least one first electrical switch and the at least one second electrical switch are controlled by a human operator via telemetry. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the continuity states of the at least one first electrical switch and the at least one second electrical switch are automatically selected by the controlling electronics. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one third electrical switch configured to provide electrical continuity for electrical current flow, or to interrupt the electrical current flow between the energy dissipating device and the electrical conducting means. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one capacitor configured to provide a small impedance for electrical AC current flow characterized by high frequency, while configured to provide a large impedance for electrical AC current flow characterized by low frequency, the at least one capacitor connected in series with the at least one energy dissipating device and providing an electrical path from the at least one energy dissipating device and the electrical conducting means. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy dissipation device is a resistor. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy induction device is an MRI system. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes is/are configured to provide electrical stimulation in a brain. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes is/are configured to provide electrical stimulation in a heart. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes is/are configured to provide electrical stimulation in an animal organ. 
     
     
         13 . A method of mitigating the effects of an electromagnetic energy induction device on an implanted electrical stimulating device comprising at least one stimulating electrode and an electrical energy storage means and a controlling electronics connected by electrical connecting wires, the method comprising:
 providing at least one first electrical switch in series with the at least one stimulating electrode;   providing at least one second electrical switch in series with the electrical energy storage means and the controlling electronics;   providing at least one energy dissipating device in electrical parallel connection with the at least one stimulating electrode and with the electrical energy storage means and with the controlling electronics,   wherein the first electrical switch and the second electrical switch are configured to interrupt the electrical current flow at the command of an operator, and the energy dissipating device is configured to dissipate the energy induced by the induction device, thereby preventing the electrical energy built up at the first electrical switch and second electrical switch.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising a third electrical switch configured to interrupt the electrical current flow at the command of an operator;
 wherein the third electrical switch is configured to complete a closed loop including the energy dissipating device and the electrical connecting wires;   whereby the energy dissipating device is configured to dissipate the energy induced by the electromagnetic energy induction device, preventing the electric potential built up at the gap of the first switch and the second switch.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising at least one capacitor configured to offer smaller electrical resistance to high-frequency AC currents then to low-frequency AC currents;
 wherein the at least one capacitor is configured to complete a closed loop including the energy dissipating device and the electrical connecting wires;   whereby the energy dissipating device is configured to dissipate the energy induced by the electromagnetic energy induction device, preventing the electric potential built up at the gap of the first switch and the second switch.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer program medium for use on a computer system for control the path of electrical energy on at least one stimulating electrode, on an electrical energy storage means and controlling electronics and on at least one energy dissipating device, the computer program medium comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:
 program code for controlling the opening and closing of at least one first electrical switch and at least one second electrical switch,   wherein the at least first electrical switch is connected in series with the at least one stimulating electrode and the at least second electrical switch is connected in series with energy storage medium and the controlling electronics, whereby the first electrical switch is capable to interrupt the flow of electrical energy into the at least one stimulating electrode and the second electrical switch is capable to interrupt the flow of electrical energy into the energy storage device and the controlling electronics;   whereby the at least one energy dissipating device is configured to dissipate unwanted energy, thereby preventing unwanted energy to flow into the stimulating electrodes and into the energy storage device and the controlling electronics.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer program medium according to  claim 16  wherein the unwanted energy is induced by an MRI imaging system.