Neuromodulation systems and methods of using same

Abstract

Neuromodulation systems are described. An example neuromodulation system includes a controller wirelessly communicatively coupled to a host computer, a signal generator communicatively coupled to the controller, and a plurality of electrodes communicatively coupled to the signal generator. The controller, in conjunction with the signal generator and the at least one electrode are configured to deliver a stimulation to a mammal based on an instruction received from the host computer. The stimulation is configured to induce voluntary movement or restore function in the mammal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A neuromodulation system comprising:
 a controller wirelessly communicatively coupled to a host computer;   a signal generator communicatively coupled to the controller; and   a plurality of electrodes communicatively coupled to the signal generator;   wherein the controller, in conjunction with the signal generator and the at least one electrode are configured to deliver a stimulation to a mammal based on an instruction received from the host computer, the stimulation being configured to induce voluntary movement or restore function of the mammal.   
     
     
         2 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a multiplexer circuit configured to enable the processor to select a first pair of the electrodes to deliver the stimulation. 
     
     
         3 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the multiplexer circuit is configured to enable the processor to select a second pair of electrodes to sense an electrical signal within the mammal. 
     
     
         4 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the mammal is a human. 
     
     
         5 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless power receiver configured to:
 receive power wirelessly from a wireless power supply; and   rectify the received power into at least one DC voltage for the controller and the signal generator.   
     
     
         6 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the voluntary movement is of a foot, a toe, an ankle, a knee, a leg, a hip, a shoulder, an arm, a hand, a wrist, a finger, a waist, a trunk, a neck, a head or a combination thereof and the voluntary movement comprises at least one of standing, stepping, a walking motor pattern, sitting down, sitting up, laying down, reaching, grasping, pulling and pushing, swallowing and chewing, breathing, and coughing. 
     
     
         7 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation is applied over a cervical portion of the spinal cord or the brainstem. 
     
     
         8 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered signal is applied epidurally over at least one of a lumbar portion, a lumbosacral portion, and a sacral portion of the spinal cord. 
     
     
         9 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivered signal is applied to a thoracic or thoracic-lumbar portion of the spinal cord. 
     
     
         10 . A method of inducing a voluntary movement in a mammal with a spinal injury, the method comprising:
 receiving in a controller from a wirelessly communicatively coupled host computer an instruction to apply a stimulation to a mammal;   instructing a signal generator via the controller to apply the stimulation; and   applying via the signal generator to at least one electrode the stimulation.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting a control instruction from the controller to a multiplexer circuit to select the at least one electrode for applying the stimulation. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein selecting the electrode includes selecting a pair of electrodes within a MEMS microelectrode array and electromyography (“EMG”) wires or electrodes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising transmitting a control instruction from the controller to a multiplexer circuit to select the at least one electrode within the microelectrode array, the EMG wires, or a sensor to sense an electrical signal within the mammal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a chemical sensor, a light sensor, a photonic sensor, an acoustic sensor, a flow sensor, a flex sensor, a gyroscope, and an accelerometer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving power wirelessly in a wireless power receiver from a wireless power supply; and   rectifying the received power in a DC voltage for the controller and the signal generator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining in the controller that received power is insufficient for the stimulation; and   transmitting a message to the wireless power receiver for additional power.   
     
     
         17 . A neuromodulation system comprising:
 a controller configured to wirelessly receive operating instructions from a host computer;   a signal generator communicatively coupled to the controller;   a multiplexer circuit communicatively coupled to the controller and the signal generator;   a wireless power receiver electrically coupled to a wireless power supply and configured to power the controller, the signal generator, and the multiplexer circuit;   a plurality of EMG wires or electrodes electrically coupled to the multiplexer circuit; and   a microelectrode array including a 9×3 array of electrodes electrically coupled to the multiplexer circuit,   wherein the controller, in conjunction with the signal generator, the multiplexer circuit, and at least one of an EMG wire or electrode and an electrode within the microelectrode array are configured to deliver a stimulation to a mammal, the stimulation being configured to induce voluntary movement or enable restoration of function in the mammal.   
     
     
         18 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the stimulation includes an epidural stimulation. 
     
     
         19 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the multiplexer circuit is configured to enable a pair of the EMG wires or a pair of the electrodes within the microelectrode array to receive the stimulation from the signal generator. 
     
     
         20 . The neuromodulation system of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit a control instruction to a multiplexer circuit to select the at least one electrode within the microelectrode array, the EMG wires or electrodes, or a sensor to sense an electrical signal within the mammal.