Architectures for multi-electrode implantable stimulator devices having minimal numbers of decoupling capacitors
First Claim
1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
- an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes;
a first current path coupleable to a first of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the first current path comprises an anode or cathode current path;
a plurality of second current paths each coupleable to a different second of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second current paths comprises the other of an anode or cathode current path when compared to the first current path,at least one current source configured to provide a current in one of the second current paths;
wherein the first current path and the second current paths together comprise X current paths; and
a plurality of X−
1 capacitors, wherein one of the X−
1 capacitors is placed in one of the X current paths such that only one of the X current paths does not include a capacitor.
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Abstract
Architectures for implantable stimulators having N electrodes are disclosed. The architectures contains X current sources, or DACs. In a single anode/multiple cathode design, one of the electrodes is designated as the anode, and up to X of the electrodes can be designated as cathodes and independently controlled by one of the X DACs, allowing complex patient therapy and current steering between electrodes. The design uses at least X decoupling capacitors: X capacitors in the X cathode paths, or one in the anode path and X−1 in the X cathode paths. In a multiple anode/multiple cathode design having X DACs, a total of X−1 decoupling capacitors are needed. Because the number of DACs X can typically be much less than the total number of electrodes (N), these architectures minimize the number of decoupling capacitors which saves space, and ensures no DC current injection even during current steering.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes; a first current path coupleable to a first of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the first current path comprises an anode or cathode current path; a plurality of second current paths each coupleable to a different second of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second current paths comprises the other of an anode or cathode current path when compared to the first current path, at least one current source configured to provide a current in one of the second current paths; wherein the first current path and the second current paths together comprise X current paths; and a plurality of X−
1 capacitors, wherein one of the X−
1 capacitors is placed in one of the X current paths such that only one of the X current paths does not include a capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of first current paths each coupleable to a different one of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the first current paths comprises an anode current path; a plurality of second current paths each coupleable to a different one of the plurality of electrodes, wherein each of the second current paths comprises a cathode current path, at least one anodic current source configured to provide a current in one of the first current paths; at least one cathodic current source configured to provide a current in one of the second current paths; wherein the first current paths and the second current paths together comprise X current paths; and a plurality of X−
1 capacitors, wherein one of the X−
1 capacitors is placed in one of the X current paths such that only one of the X current paths does not include a capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An implantable medical device, comprising:
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an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes; at least one current source configured to provide a current to one of X current paths connected to each electrode; a switch matrix in each one of the X current paths, wherein each switch matrix is configured to connect any of the plurality of electrodes to the at least one current source; and a plurality of X−
1 capacitors, wherein one of the X−
1 capacitors is placed in one of the X current paths such that only one of the X current paths does not include a capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification