Stimulation control for brain stimulation

• US 20030204219A1
• Filed: 04/29/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gielen, Frans
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply

Abstract

System and method for end of battery life operation of an implantable bilateral brain stimulator. The present system and method automatically measures one or more levels of electrical parameters in a battery system of the implantable stimulator. The measurement can be compared to threshold values. The implantable bilateral brain stimulator can then make automatic adjustments to the therapy when the levels of the electrical parameters in the battery system reach the threshold values. Adjustments to the therapy are made such that the patient is provided with an adjusted, but sufficiently safe, amount of therapy so as to extend the life of the battery and also to allow some physical symptoms alleviated by the system to return, thereby signaling the patient that medical attention needs to be sought.

Claims

1. A brain electrical stimulation system comprising:

a first brain stimulation lead comprising an electrode;

a second brain stimulation lead comprising an electrode; and

an implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit, wherein the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead and the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead are operatively coupled to the implantable pulse generator unit, the implantable pulse generator unit comprising;

an electrical power supply;

a stimulation unit coupled to the electrical power supply, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses to the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead and the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead; and

a power monitor operatively coupled to the stimulation unit, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure a level of an electrical energy parameter for the electrical power supply and is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses to the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches a preselected threshold.

2. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to withhold electrical pulses to the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

3. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 2, wherein the power monitor is operable to cyclically adjust the electrical pulses to the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead after the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

4. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 3, wherein the power monitor is operable to cyclically adjust the electrical pulses between a first interval of providing the electrical pulses and a second interval of withholding the electrical pulses.

5. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 2, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical pulses to the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

6. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 5, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a voltage level of electrical pulses.

7. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 5, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a current level of electrical pulses.

8. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses to the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead, and wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust electrical pulses by cycling each electrical pulse of the electrical pulses between the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead and the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead at a preselected interval when the level of the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

9. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses to the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead, and wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical pulses to the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead and the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

10. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 9, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a voltage level of electrical pulses to the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead and the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

11. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 9, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a current level of electrical pulses to the electrode on the first brain stimulation lead and the electrode on the second brain stimulation lead when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

12. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the power monitor measures a voltage of the electrical power supply as the electrical energy parameter.

13. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the power monitor measures a current of the electrical power supply as the electrical energy parameter.

14. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the preselected threshold comprises a preselected percentage of an initial value of the electrical energy parameter, and the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected percentage of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

15. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 14, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure voltage as the electrical energy parameter, and the preselected percentage is ten (10) percent or less of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

16. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 14, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure current as the electrical energy parameter, and the preselected percentage is ten (10) percent or less of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

17. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses having a pulse duration of at least 30 microseconds.

18. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses having a frequency of at least 10 Hz.

19. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 18, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses having a negative square wave profile and an amplitude of at least 0.1 volts.

20. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the first brain stimulation lead and the second brain stimulation lead each comprise two or more electrodes, where the two or more electrodes are electrically separated and spaced apart along the first brain stimulation lead and the second brain stimulation lead.

21. The brain electrical stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the power monitor measures the level of the electrical energy parameter for the electrical power supply at least once every thirty (30) days.

22. An implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit comprising:

an electrical power supply;

a stimulation unit coupled to the electrical power supply, wherein the stimulation unit comprises a first channel and a second channel operable for providing electrical pulses through the first channel and the second channel to a brain; and

a power monitor coupled to the stimulation unit, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure a level of an electrical energy parameter for the electrical power supply and is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses through at least the first channel when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches a preselected threshold.

23. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust the stimulation unit to withhold electrical pulses from the first channel when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

24. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 23, wherein the power monitor is operable to cyclically adjust the electrical pulses from the second channel after the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

25. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 24, wherein the power monitor is operable to cyclically adjust the electrical pulses between a first interval of providing the electrical pulses and a second interval of withholding the electrical pulses.

26. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 23, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical pulses from the second channel when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

27. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 26, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a voltage level of electrical pulses.

28. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 26, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a current level of electrical pulses.

29. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses from the second channel, and wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust electrical pulses by cycling each electrical pulse of the electrical pulses between the first channel and the second channel at a preselected interval when the level of the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

30. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses from the second channel, and wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical pulses to the first channel and the second channel when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

31. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 30, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a voltage level of electrical pulses from the first channel and the second channel when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

32. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 30, wherein the power monitor is operable to adjust a current level of electrical pulses from the first channel and the second channel when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

33. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure a voltage of the electrical power supply as the electrical energy parameter.

34. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure a current of the electrical power supply as the electrical energy parameter.

35. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the preselected threshold comprises a preselected percentage of an initial value of the electrical energy parameter, and the power monitor is operable to cause the stimulation unit to adjust electrical pulses when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected percentage of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

36. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 35, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure voltage as the electrical energy parameter, and the preselected percentage is ten (10) percent or less of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

37. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 35, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure current as the electrical energy parameter, and the preselected percentage is ten (10) percent or less of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

38. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses having a pulse duration of at least 30 microseconds.

39. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses having a frequency of at least 10 Hz.

40. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 39, wherein the stimulation unit is operable to provide electrical pulses having a negative square wave profile and an amplitude of at least 0.1 volts.

41. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the first channel is adapted to be releasably coupled to two or more electrodes, and the second channel is adapted to be releasably coupled to two or more electrodes.

42. The implantable brain stimulation pulse generator unit of claim 22, wherein the power monitor is operable to measure the level of the electrical energy parameter for the electrical power supply at least once every thirty (30) days.

43. A method of brain stimulation comprising:

providing electrical pulses to a first brain location and a second brain location using a battery;

measuring a level of an electrical energy parameter of the battery;

comparing the level of the electrical energy parameter to a preselected threshold; and

adjusting the electrical pulses to at least the first brain location when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold.

44. The method of brain stimulation of claim 43, wherein adjusting the electrical pulses comprises withholding the electrical pulses from the first brain location.

45. The method of brain stimulation of claim 44, wherein adjusting the electrical pulses comprises cyclically adjusting the electrical pulses to the second brain location between a first interval of providing the electrical pulses and a second interval of withholding the electrical pulses.

46. The method of brain stimulation of claim 44, wherein adjusting the electrical pulses comprises changing a value of one or more parameters of the electrical pulses to the second brain location.

47. The method of brain stimulation of claim 46, wherein changing the value of one or more parameters comprises changing a voltage level of electrical pulses.

48. The method of brain stimulation of claim 46, wherein changing the value of one or more parameters comprises changing a current level of electrical pulses.

49. The method of brain stimulation of claim 43, wherein adjusting the electrical pulses comprises adjusting the electrical pulses to the second brain location when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold, and further comprising cycling each electrical pulse of the electrical pulses between the first brain location and the second brain location.

50. The method of brain stimulation of claim 43, wherein adjusting the electrical pulses comprises adjusting the electrical pulses to the second brain location when the level of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected threshold, and wherein adjusting the electrical pulses comprises changing a value of one or more parameters of the electrical pulses to the first brain location and the second brain location.

51. The method of brain stimulation of claim 50, wherein changing the value of one or more parameters comprises changing a voltage level of electrical pulses.

52. The method of brain stimulation of claim 50, wherein changing the value of one or more parameters comprises changing a current level of electrical pulses.

53. The method of brain stimulation of claim 43, wherein the preselected threshold comprises a preselected percentage of an initial value of the electrical energy parameter, and wherein comparing the level of the electrical energy parameter to the preselected threshold comprises determining a percentage of the electrical energy parameter from the level of the electrical energy parameter measured and the initial value of the electrical energy parameter, and wherein adjusting the electrical energy pulses comprises changing a value of one or more of the electrical energy parameters when the percentage of the electrical energy parameter reaches the preselected percentage of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

54. The method of brain stimulation of claim 53, comprising setting the preselected percentage as ten (10) percent or less of the initial value of the electrical energy parameter.

55. The method of brain stimulation of claim 43, wherein providing electrical pulses comprises proving electrical pulses to a first half of a brain structure for the first brain location and providing electrical pulses to a second half of the brain structure for the second brain location.