Wireless Programmable Healthy Neural Stimulator Prototype

Abstract

Neural stimulator methods are used as treatment for the majority of neurological disorders. While the concept is used in a broad range of applications, some design issues need to be overcome. The first challenge is the operational range of the circuit, which must satisfy a wide range of patients. Secondly challenge is the amplitude of stimulation, which must be controlled in order to avoid pain and discomfort for patient. This paper introduces a programmable neural stimulator with a residual voltage monitor (RVM) circuit to solve both problems. This device is designed to adjust current stimulation amplitudes using mobile Bluetooth device. After every bi-phasic stimulation pulse, RVM circuit monitors the voltage across the Electrode-Tissue Impedance (ETI) and provides information about positive residual voltage (PRV), negative residual voltage (NRV) and safe residual voltage levels (SRVL) to the control logic unit (CLU). Based on this RVM information, the CLU determines if additional stimulation is needed to bring residual voltage back to a safe stimulation level. This system has been implemented with physical modules such as Arduino UNO, Bluetooth module (HC-05), 30n06 (NMOS) transistor, IRF9540(PMOS) transistor, 741 OP-AMP, diodes and logic gates for rapid test of the proposed circuit. As the proposed circuit monitors safety voltage and provides required stimulation current for patient,hence it is safe and reliable circuit without any discomfort or pain.