A METHOD OF OPERATIING AN ELECTRICAL STIMULATION DEVICE WITH TWO OR MORE STIMULATION ENERGY SUPPLIES, AND A STIMULATING DEVICE

摘要

Conventional devices may deliver a degree of electrical charge into biological tissues – to satisfy regulatory and safety concerns, measures are taken to maintain a zero-charge residual at the stimulation site. A physically large capacitor is usually required, making miniaturization more difficult, and increasing the cost as one capacitor is required per electrode. A method for operating tissue stimulation device 100 is provided, the device comprising: a first stimulation electrode 200; a pulse energy controller 500, 510 for transferring electrical energy as one or more electrical stimulation pulses to the first stimulation electrode 200; the pulse energy controller 500, 510 further comprising two or more stimulation energy supplies 601, 602, 603, 604, for each supplying electrical energy substantially concurrently to the first stimulation electrode 200 as a first pulse 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531; and each supplying electrical energy separately to the first stimulation electrode 200 as a second pulse 526*, 527*, 528*, 529*, 530*, 531*. A simpler control of stimulation may be provided by considering each energy supply as an energy building block, which may be selected as required. Using power supplies in this way reduces the requirements that they be very accurate and very stable. By requiring less functionality, the size and cost of the power supply design may be reduced. By using the same supplies for different pulses, a higher degree of reproducibility may be provided.