Implantable neurostimulator supporting trial and chronic modes
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an electrical stimulator including;
a pulse generator configured to be coupled to an electrode; and
a processor configured to activate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation for a first authorized use of the pulse generator, and to disable the pulse generator to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the first authorized use; and
an external computing device configured to transmit an authorization to the processor,wherein upon being disabled, the pulse generator is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the processor receives the authorization from the external computing device, andwherein the processor is configured to reactivate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation for a second authorized use of operation following the first authorized use in response to receiving the authorization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In some examples, a chronic implantable neurostimulator supports trial and chronic modes of operation. In addition, in some examples, the neurostimulator can alternatively include one or more sensors that may or may not function differently in trial and chronic modes. The device may be designed to be used as both a trial neurostimulator and a permanent, or chronic, neurostimulator. A trial neurostimulation period can be used to evaluate the efficacy of the therapy. A percutaneous or implantable trial neurostimulator is used for the trial neurostimulation period. In most cases, the trial period is successful, in which case the trial stimulator is explanted and replaced with a permanent, i.e., “chronic,” implantable stimulator. In accordance with the disclosure, an implantable neurostimulator supports both trial neurostimulation and chronic neurostimulation in the event trial stimulation is successful.
34 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an electrical stimulator including; a pulse generator configured to be coupled to an electrode; and a processor configured to activate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation for a first authorized use of the pulse generator, and to disable the pulse generator to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the first authorized use; and an external computing device configured to transmit an authorization to the processor, wherein upon being disabled, the pulse generator is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the processor receives the authorization from the external computing device, and wherein the processor is configured to reactivate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation for a second authorized use of operation following the first authorized use in response to receiving the authorization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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means for delivering electrical stimulation; means for activating the means for delivering electrical stimulation for a first authorized use of the means for delivering electrical stimulation; means for disabling the means for delivering electrical stimulation to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the first authorized use; and means for transmitting an authorization to the means for activating, wherein upon being disabled after the first authorized use, the means for delivering electrical stimulation is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the means for activating receives the authorization from the means for transmitting, and wherein the means for activating reactivates the means for delivering electrical stimulation for a second authorized use of the means for delivering electrical stimulation when the authorization is received. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A medical device system comprising:
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an electrical stimulator comprising a pulse generator configured to generate electrical stimulation, and at least one electrode configured to deliver the electrical stimulation to a patient; and a processor configured to activate the pulse generator to generate electrical stimulation during a first authorized use of the pulse generator, disable the pulse generator after the first authorized use, receive, after disabling the pulse generator after the first authorized use, an authorization from an external computing device, and reactivate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation for a second authorized use when the authorization is received, wherein upon being disabled, the pulse generator is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the processor receives the authorization from the external computing device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system comprising:
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a pulse generator configured to generate electrical stimulation therapy; and a processor configured to activate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation during a first authorized use of the pulse generator, and to disable the pulse generator to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the first authorized use until an authorization from an external computing device is received, wherein the processor is configured to, after disabling the pulse generator after the first authorized use, receive the authorization from the external computing device, and reactivate the pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation during a second authorized use following the first authorized use in response to receiving the authorization, wherein the authorization authorizes use of a different mode of operation than the first authorized use, and wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate electrical stimulation according to the different mode of operating during the second authorized use. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A nerve stimulation system comprising:
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a neurostimulator unit including; a pulse generator configured to couple to an electrode configured to be inserted adjacent a stimulation site of a patient; and a processor in communication with the pulse generator and configured to activate the pulse generator to generate electrical stimulation during an authorized use of the pulse generator, and to disable the pulse generator to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the authorized use; and an external computing device operable to communicate with the processor of the neurostimulator unit to transmit an authorization to the processor, wherein upon being disabled, the pulse generator is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the processor receives the authorization from the external computing device, and wherein the processor is configured to reactivate the pulse generator to generate electrical stimulation during another authorized use of the pulse generator when the authorization is received. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method comprising:
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transmitting, by an external computing device, a first authorization to a processor of a neurostimulator unit, wherein the processor is configured to receive the first authorization from the external computing device to activate a pulse generator of the neurostimulator unit for a first authorized use of the pulse generator when the first authorization is received, and to disable the pulse generator to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the first authorized use, wherein upon being disabled, the pulse generator is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the processor receives a second authorization from the external computing device; and transmitting, by the external computing device, the second authorization to the processor of the neurostimulator unit, wherein the processor is configured to, after disabling the pulse generator after the first authorized use, receive the second authorization from the computing device and to reactivate the pulse generator of the neurostimulator unit to generate electrical stimulation for a second authorized use of the pulse generator when the second authorization is received. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method comprising:
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activating, by a processor, a pulse generator to generate electrical stimulation for a first authorized use of the pulse generator; disabling, by the processor, the pulse generator to stop the delivery of electrical stimulation after the first authorized use, wherein upon being disabled, the pulse generator is prevented from being reactivated in response to patient input until the processor receives an authorization from an external computing device; after disabling the pulse generator after the first authorized use, receiving, by the processor, the authorization from the external computing device; and reactivating, by the processor, the pulse generator to generate electrical stimulation for a second authorized use of the pulse generator when the authorization is received. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification