Programmable waveform pulses for an implantable medical device

• US 20030204224A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goblish, Todd P., Torgerson, Nathan A., Stein, Marc, Rodriguez, John Delfin, Heathershaw, Todd D., Leinders, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components

Abstract

Apparatus and method provide flexibility in generating a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator (INS). The stimulation waveform is synthesized for each rate period interval. Each rate period interval is partitioned into time intervals, during which stimulation pulses, recharging, and time duration delays may be induced. With the embodiment of the invention, a second stimulation pulse, having different electrical characteristics than a first stimulation pulse, may be generated during the rate period interval. An embodiment utilizes apparatus comprising a waveform controller and a waveform generator that are controlled by the waveform controller. The waveform controller uses waveform parameters to instruct the waveform generator to form stimulation pulses. Any of the components may be adjusted or deleted in the generation of the stimulation waveform. The embodiment enables any of the associated waveform parameters to be updated at the waveform controller in order to alter the stimulation waveform.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating a neurological stimulation waveform with an implantable medical device, comprising in combination:

a waveform generator; and

a waveform controller coupled to the waveform generator, the waveform controller configured to perform the steps of;

(a) instructing the waveform generator to form a first stimulation pulse to an electrode;

(b) waiting a second time delay duration during the rate period interval; and

(c) instructing the waveform generator to form a second stimulation pulse to the electrode, wherein a parameter that is associated with the second stimulation pulse is adjustable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further step of:

(d) waiting a first time delay duration during the rate period interval before performing step (a).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further step of:

(d) instructing the waveform generator to form a subsequent stimulation pulse to the electrode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform generator is configured to perform the further steps of:

(d) waiting a third time delay duration during the rate period interval; and

(e) causing a passive recharge of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform generator is configured to perform the further steps of:

(d) waiting a fourth time delay duration until a completion of the rate period interval; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(c).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises:

(i) instructing the waveform generator to form the first stimulation pulse having a first pulse width.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises:

(i) instructing the waveform generator to form the first stimulation pulse having a first pulse amplitude.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first pulse amplitude is a voltage amplitude.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first pulse amplitude is a current amplitude.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the parameter is selected from the group consisting of a second pulse amplitude and a second pulse width.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second pulse amplitude is a voltage amplitude.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second pulse amplitude is a current amplitude.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further step of:

(d) receiving a waveform parameter that is associated with the neurological stimulation waveform.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the waveform controller receives the waveform parameter through a telemetry channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the waveform parameter is selected from the group consisting of the rate period interval, a first time delay duration, the second time delay duration, a third time delay duration, a first pulse width, a second pulse width, a first pulse amplitude, and a second pulse amplitude.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a value of the waveform parameter corresponding to the rate period interval is different from the value corresponding to a subsequent rate period interval.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform generator comprises:

a regulator module;

a capacitor arrangement coupled to the regulator module as instructed by the waveform controller; and

a digital to analog converter (DAC) that determines a voltage drop across the regulator module, the DAC controlled by the waveform controller.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further step of:

(d) changing the capacitor arrangement from a charge configuration to a stack configuration in order to enable the waveform generator to form the first stimulation pulse.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further step of:

(d) changing the capacitor arrangement from a charge configuration to a stack configuration in order to enable the waveform generator to form the second stimulation pulse

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second waveform generator, and wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further step of:

(d) instructing the second waveform generator to form a third stimulation pulse to a second electrode, the third stimulation pulse occurring between the first stimulation pulse and the second stimulation pulse on a time basis.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the waveform controller is configured to perform the further steps of:

(d) waiting a fourth time delay duration until a completion of the rate period interval; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d).

22. A method for generating a neurological stimulation waveform with an implantable medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) instructing the waveform generator to form a first stimulation pulse to an electrode;

(b) waiting a second time delay duration during the rate period interval; and

(c) instructing the waveform generator to form a second stimulation pulse to the electrode, wherein a parameter that is associated with the second stimulation pulse is adjustable.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of

(d) waiting a third time delay duration during the rate period interval;

and

(e) causing a passive recharge of the apparatus.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

(d) adjusting the second stimulation pulse in accordance with the parameter.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

(d) waiting a fourth time delay duration until a completion of the rate period interval; and

(e) repeating steps (a)-(d).

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

(d) receiving a waveform parameter that is associated with the neurological stimulation waveform.

27. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to generate a neurological stimulation waveform with an implantable medical device, the instructions performing the steps of:

(a) instructing the waveform generator to form a first stimulation pulse to an electrode;

(b) waiting a second time delay duration during the rate period interval; and

(c) instructing the waveform generator to form a second stimulation pulse to the electrode, wherein a parameter that is associated with the second stimulation pulse is adjustable.

28. An apparatus for generating a neurological stimulation waveform with an implantable medical device during a first rate period interval and a next rate period interval, comprising in combination:

a waveform generator; and

a waveform controller coupled to the waveform generator, the waveform controller configured to perform the steps of;

(a) changing a capacitor arrangement from a charge configuration to a stack configuration in order to enable the waveform generator to form the a first stimulation pulse;

(b) instructing the waveform generator to form the first stimulation pulse to an electrode, the first stimulation pulse characterized by a first pulse width;

(c) after a second time delay duration, changing the capacitor arrangement from the charge configuration to the stack configuration in order to enable the waveform generator to form the a second stimulation pulse;

(d) instructing the waveform generator to form the second stimulation pulse to the electrode, the first stimulation pulse characterized by a second pulse width;

(e) after a third time delay duration, causing a passive recharge of the apparatus; and

(f) waiting until the first rate period interval has expired until repeating steps (a)-(e) during the next rate period interval.

29. An implantable medical device, comprising in combination:

a telemetry module;

a processor that communicates with a programmer through the telemetry module in order to configure the implantable medical device;

a therapy module that provides a neurological stimulation waveform to a patient and receives configuration information and commands about a therapeutical treatment from the processor, the therapy module comprising;

a waveform generator; and

a waveform controller coupled to the waveform generator, the waveform controller configured to perform the steps of;

(a) changing a capacitor arrangement from a charge configuration to a stack configuration in order to enable the waveform generator to form the a first stimulation pulse;

(b) instructing the waveform generator to form the first stimulation pulse to an electrode, the first stimulation pulse characterized by a first pulse width;

(c) after a second time delay duration during the rate period interval, changing the capacitor arrangement from the charge configuration to the stack configuration in order to enable the waveform generator to form the a second stimulation pulse;

(d) instructing the waveform generator to form the second stimulation pulse to the electrode, the first stimulation pulse characterized by a second pulse width; and

(e) after a third time delay duration during the rate period interval, causing a passive recharge of the apparatus; and

a power module that provides electrical power to the telemetry module, the processor, and the therapy module.