System and Method for Transmission of Electrical Signals in Imperfectly Conducting Media

摘要

A system for transmitting a signal through an imperfectly-conducting medium includes a transmitter station and a receiver station. The transmitter station has a transmitter and at least one conductor (electrode). The receiving station has at least one conductor (electrode) and a receiver. The transmitter causes a current to flow from the transmitter conductor to the receiver conductor through the imperfectly-conducting medium. Associated with the current flow is an electric field. Because the current flow varies with the signal, the electric field varies with the signal. The receiving conductor senses the electric field and provides a signal to the receiver which detects the signal to be transmitted. The receiving station then passes the signal to an output device to be output.

主权项

1. A system for providing electrical stimulation to a body comprising:
(a) a transmitter station, the transmitter station comprising: a transmitter for producing a signal having a frequency spectrum that does not directly cause stimulation of muscle tissue within a body; transmitter electrode means coupled to the transmitter and to the body whereby a signal produced by the transmitter causes a current to flow from the transmitter electrode means through the body to thereby generate an electric field in the body that transmits the signal; (b) a receiver station, the receiver station comprising: a receiver, the receiver comprising pulse-generation means for producing a muscle tissue stimulating waveform in response to a signal inputted to the receiver in a frequency spectrum that causes muscle tissue stimulation within a body; receiver electrode means coupled to the body and coupled to the receiver whereby a signal, received by the receiver electrode means by being within the electric field in the body, is inputted to the receiver from the receiver electrode means; stimulation electrode means coupled to the receiver whereby electrical current corresponding to the muscle tissue stimulating waveform produced by the receiver in response to a signal inputted to the receiver from the receiver electrode means flows from the stimulation electrode means into the body; and (c) a wireless, partially conductive path in the body that causes the electric field generated by a current flow from the transmitter electrode means through the body to encompass the receiver electrode means whereby a signal produced by the transmitter is received by the receiver electrode means and inputted to the receiver.