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Abstract

A neural prosthesis has a generator of electrical pulses, the pulses having a sine wave shape with frequency greater than 5 kHz, which may be amplitude modulated with a modulator, a blocking electrode for delivery of the electrical pulses to the neuron of the human nerve, the blocking electrode being electrically connected to the generator; and a controller operatively connected to the generator, the controller including an input for receiving control inputs, a control circuit responsive to the control inputs, and an output line responsive to the control circuit for sending output signals, the output signals of the controller including at least a start signal and a stop signal for controlling the generator. A method of controlling human nerve activity in a human body, the method comprising the step of applying electrical pulses to a neuron of a human nerve, the pulses being characterized by having a sine waveform and frequency over 5000 kHz such that, upon application of the pulses to a first site on the neuron, propagation of action potentials in the neuron is blocked at the first site. The neural prosthesis is used with a sensor having output representative of human body activity, such as body movement, muscle activity or nerve activity. For the prevention of an initial action potential, an initial pulse may be delivered with greater amplitude or different shape than subsequent pulses.

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First Claim