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US-12623077-B2 - Neuromodulator apparatuses comprising LED driver integrated circuits

US12623077B2US 12623077 B2US12623077 B2US 12623077B2US-12623077-B2

Abstract

Described herein are neuromodulator (e.g., neuromodulation apparatuses) that include an LED driver integrated circuit (IC) that is adapted to operate as a pulse generator for the neuromodulator.

Inventors

  • Wing Law
  • Remi Demers

Assignees

  • THYNC GLOBAL, INC.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20200930

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A neuromodulator apparatus comprising: an electrode pair; a microcontroller storing one or more neural modulation waveform parameters; an LED driver integrated circuit (IC) adapted to function as a pulse generator, wherein a first pin of the LED driver IC is in electrically communication with a first electrode of the electrode pair, and a feedback pin on the LED driver IC is coupled to the microcontroller to modulate an output of the LED driver IC on the first pin in accordance to the one or more neural modulation waveform parameters stored in the microcontroller; and a voltage multiplier circuit in electrical communication with the first pin and the first electrode so that the voltage multiplier circuit multiplies a voltage output of the LED driver IC delivered before the first electrode; wherein the output from the LED driver IC is modulated by the microcontroller and output by the first electrode.
  2. 2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voltage multiplier circuit is configured to multiple a voltage from the LED driver IC to greater than 50 V.
  3. 3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voltage multiplier circuit comprises a voltage doubler or a voltage tripler.
  4. 4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the LED driver IC comprises an oscillator having an operating frequency between 1 MHz to 2 MHz configured to drive a switch at the operating frequency, an error amplifier that reads a feedback voltage to control on time and off time of the switch, a current sense amplifier that reads a current passing through the switch to keep the current from going beyond a capability of the switch, and control logic.
  5. 5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the LED driver IC further comprises the switch.
  6. 6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrode pair comprises a pair of hydrogel skin contacts.
  7. 7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an OR gate on the feedback pin of the LED driver IC, wherein the OR gate receives input from the microcontroller and from a sample input that is in electrical communication with the first electrode.
  8. 8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising skin discharge circuitry in electrical communication with the microcontroller, configured to discharge capacitive energy from skin during or after neuromodulation is applied to the skin.
  9. 9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a skin detection circuit coupled to a pin on the LED driver IC, wherein the skin sensing circuit is configured to detect contact with skin based on an output voltage of the LED driver IC.
  10. 10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the skin detection circuit is configured to trigger a signal to the microcontroller to switch output pulses from the LED driver IC to a short duration, low-voltage pinging pulses when a voltage from the LED driver IC exceeds a threshold.
  11. 11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the skin detection circuit is further configured to detect contact with skin when a voltage of the low-voltage pinging pulses falls below a threshold voltage.
  12. 12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a low pass filter in electrical communication with an OVP pin of the LED driver IC, wherein the apparatus is configured to shut down the LED driver IC when a DC is detected.
  13. 13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further wherein the microcontroller is configured to store an inverse of a neural modulation wave sequence that is between 0 mV and 100 mV, for application to the feedback pin of the LED driver IC.
  14. 14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive adhesive film electrically coupling a first gel electrode pad to the first pin.
  15. 15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an output of the LED driver IC to the first pin is an AC output.
  16. 16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the LED driver IC further comprises an enable pin in electrical communication with the microcontroller, wherein the apparatus is configured to modulate the enable pin when a neuromodulation frequency is between about 0.1 HZ to 100 HZ.
  17. 17 . A neuromodulator apparatus comprising: an electrode pair; a microcontroller storing one or more neural modulation waveform parameters; and an LED driver integrated circuit (IC) adapted to function as a pulse generator, wherein a first pin of the LED driver IC is in electrically communication with a first electrode of the electrode pair, and a feedback pin on the LED driver IC is coupled to the microcontroller to modulate an output of the LED driver IC on the first pin in accordance to the one or more neural modulation waveform parameters stored in the microcontroller; wherein the output from the LED driver IC is an AC output and is modulated by the microcontroller and output by the first electrode.
  18. 18 . A neuromodulator apparatus comprising: an electrode pair; a microcontroller storing one or more neural modulation waveform parameters; an LED driver integrated circuit (IC) adapted to function as a pulse generator, wherein a first pin of the LED driver IC is in electrically communication with a first electrode of the electrode pair, and a feedback pin on the LED driver IC is coupled to the microcontroller to modulate an output of the LED driver IC on the first pin in accordance to the one or more neural modulation waveform parameters stored in the microcontroller; and skin discharge circuitry in electrical communication with the microcontroller, the skin discharge circuitry configured to discharge capacitive energy from skin during or after neuromodulation is applied to the skin; wherein the output from the LED driver IC is modulated by the microcontroller and output by the first electrode.
  19. 19 . A neuromodulator apparatus comprising: an electrode pair, wherein the electrode pair comprises a pair of hydrogel skin contacts; a microcontroller storing one or more neural modulation waveform parameters; and an LED driver integrated circuit (IC) adapted to function as a pulse generator, wherein a first pin of the LED driver IC is in electrically communication with a first electrode of the electrode pair, and a feedback pin on the LED driver IC is coupled to the microcontroller to modulate an output of the LED driver IC on the first pin in accordance to the one or more neural modulation waveform parameters stored in the microcontroller; wherein the output from the LED driver IC is modulated by the microcontroller and output by the first electrode.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application no. 62/908,567, titled “NEUROMODULATOR APPARATUSES COMPRISING LED DRIVER INTEGRATED CIRCUITS,” filed on Sep. 30, 2019, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. FIELD Described herein neuromodulation apparatuses, including devices and systems, and methods of their use. BACKGROUND Neuromodulation, and particularly non-invasive neuromodulation, can affect nerves and neuronal activity, and may have therapeutic effects and/or may be useful for modulating cognitive states, perception, and motor output. For example, transdermal electric stimulation (“TES”) using skin, e.g., scalp, electrodes has been used to affect brain function and nervous system function in humans and includes transcranial alternating current stimulation (“tACS”), transcranial direct current stimulation (“tDCS”), cranial electrotherapy stimulation (“CES”), transcranial random noise stimulation (“tRNS”), trigeminal nerve stimulation (“TNS”), and vagal nerve stimulation (“VNS”), amongst other forms known to those skilled in the art. TES has been used therapeutically in various clinical applications, including treatment of pain, depression, epilepsy, ADHD, and tinnitus. This neuromodulation has been demonstrated to lower physiological stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and has potential as a therapy for specific auto-immune disorders such as psoriasis. It has the potential to treat numerous neurogenic inflammatory conditions. Neuromodulation has been shown, for example, to result in increased energy and motivation. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,014,811, 9,002,458, 9,233,244, 9,399,126 and 9,333,334. The effect is comparable to caffeine or energy drinks available in the market today, though the effect can be stronger in certain individuals. Despite the research to date on TES neuromodulation, existing systems and methods for delivering TES are lacking. In particular, miniaturized systems that incorporate hardware components with a low profile, comfortable, and/or familiar form factor for convenient, intuitive, easy to use, comfortable, and on-the-go TES free from cumbersome electrical wires, have been lacking. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE Described herein are neuromodulator (e.g., neuromodulation apparatuses) that typically include an LED driver integrated circuit (IC) that is adapted to operate as a pulse generator for the neuromodulator. Although the LED driver IC (also referred to as an LED driver chip or an LED driver) is designed to drive a string of LEDS, the apparatuses (e.g., devices, systems, etc., including neuromodulators) described herein instead have adapted the LED driver IC to operate as safe and effective pulse generators as part of a neuromodulator, in conjunction with two or more electrodes, a microcontroller and circuitry for adjusting the function of the intact LED driver IC. Traditionally, neural modulation has required a sophisticated constant current waveform that may be pulsed at variable intervals and with scheduled changes in pulse on time and pulse amplitudes to keep the neurons from adapting to the modulation signal. These requirements made the electronics expensive. Therefore it is expensive and impractical to provide disposable devices, despite the fact that the skin coupling gel contaminated by skin oil loses adhesion after one or two uses. Described herein are methods of using an existing LED chip that is configured specifically for controlling LED lights and is readily available at low cost, so that it can be used to act as a pulse generator appropriate for transdermal neural electrical stimulation. High-volume, commercial LED driver integrated circuits (ICs) are readily available. These chips are designed for an entirely different application; specifically, they are designed to act as LED drivers for driving 8 to 10 LEDs (light emitting diodes) in series. These IC operate by converting a low voltage from a single battery to a range of 20 volts to 30 volts, and are used in quantities of approximately 100s of millions a year in inexpensive flash lights, or in virtually any device (e.g., hand held devices) with displays that require LED back-lighting. Examples of such LED driver chips may include, e.g., PT4110 (PowTech), R1208 Series PWM Step-up DCDC converter for White LED (RICOH), LT3497 (Linear Technology), CAT4137 (ON Semiconductor), etc. In general an LED driver chip includes an oscillator having an operating frequency between 1 MHz to 2 MHz configured to drive a switch at the operating frequency, an error amplifier that reads a feedback voltage to control on time and off time of the switch,