Patent ID: 7925349
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: generating electric pulses in an implantable device to apply to a bodily tissue via an electrode, wherein each pulse comprises a multi-phasic waveform having alternating positive and negative phases, each phase comprises a duration and an amplitude, wherein duration is defined as the width of the phase and amplitude is defined as the height of the phase, the absolute amplitude of at least one positive phase is different from the absolute amplitude of at least one negative phase, and each pulse has a duration less than a charging time constant of an electrode-electrolyte interface between the electrode and the bodily tissue; applying the pulses to the bodily tissue; sensing an electric response resulting from the applied pulses in the bodily tissue; determining a phase delay between the applied pulses and the sensed electric response; and determining a tissue characteristic based on the phase delay.