System and method for using impedance to determine proximity and orientation of segmented electrodes
First Claim
1. A method performed using a neurostimulation lead positioned within the patient proximate to a tissue volume having conductive properties, wherein the tissue volume includes a target tissue region having distinguishable conductive properties from a remainder of the tissue volume, and the neurostimulation lead has a longitudinal axis and an electrode ring segmented into at least two electrodes circumferentially spaced from each other about the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
- determining at least one value for each of the at least two electrodes based on the conductive properties of the tissue volume; and
based on the at least one determined value, identifying information related to electrode position with respect to the target tissue region for use in providing a therapy to the patient.
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Abstract
A method for implanting a neurostimulation lead within a patient includes measuring impedances of electrodes on the lead in order to correctly position the lead relative to a target tissue region. The electrodes are circumferentially segmented electrodes that are spaced from each other about the longitudinal axis of the lead. When the difference between the impedances of the electrodes exceeds a threshold value, the lead is in the correct position. In accordance with another embodiment, impedance measurements are used to select which one of the electrodes is closest to the target tissue region. By determining which electrode has the highest impedance and which electrode has the lowest impedance, the type of tissue adjacent to each electrode can be determined based on the conductivity properties of the tissue. The target tissue region may be a spinal cord, a posterior longitudinal ligament, white matter, or gray matter.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed using a neurostimulation lead positioned within the patient proximate to a tissue volume having conductive properties, wherein the tissue volume includes a target tissue region having distinguishable conductive properties from a remainder of the tissue volume, and the neurostimulation lead has a longitudinal axis and an electrode ring segmented into at least two electrodes circumferentially spaced from each other about the longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
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determining at least one value for each of the at least two electrodes based on the conductive properties of the tissue volume; and based on the at least one determined value, identifying information related to electrode position with respect to the target tissue region for use in providing a therapy to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a process using a neurostimulation lead positioned within the patient proximate to a tissue volume having conductive properties, wherein the tissue volume includes a target tissue region having distinguishable conductive properties from a remainder of the tissue volume, and the neurostimulation lead has a longitudinal axis and an electrode ring segmented into at least two electrodes circumferentially spaced from each other about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the instructions, which when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:
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determine at least one value for each of the at east two electrodes based on the conductive properties of the tissue volume; and based on the at least one determined value, identify information related to electrode position with respect to the target tissue region for use in providing a therapy to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for use with a neurostimulation lead positioned within a patient proximate to a tissue volume that includes a target tissue region having conductive, wherein the tissue volume includes a target tissue region having distinguishable conductive properties from a remainder of the tissue volume, and the neurostimulation lead has a longitudinal axis and an electrode ring segmented into at least two electrodes circumferentially spaced from each other about the longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
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circuitry configured to determine at least one value for each of the at least two electrodes based on the conductive properties of the tissue volume; and a processor configured to, based on the at least one determined value, identify information related to electrode position with respect to the target tissue region for use in providing a therapy to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification