Multichannel Implantable Stimulator for Control of Paralyzed Muscle

An implantable stimulator has been developed for excitation of paralyzed muscle. The stimulator is radio frequency powered and controlled, and has four output channels; there are three sequentially fired and the fourth is independently controlled. The width of each stimulus pulse and the group stimulus frequency are controlled independently by the absence of the 25 MHz powering carrier. The stimulator has been implemented in a thick film hybrid circuit. The circuitry is encapsulated in a ceramic (Macor®) , which has hermetically sealed feed throughs for electrode lead wires.