Implantable neural stimulation device providing activity, rest, and long term closed-loop peripheral vascular disease therapy and method

• US 20030212445A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Lisa P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration

Abstract

An implantable neural stimulation device and method treats peripheral vascular disease of a patient. The device includes a pulse generator that provides stimulation pulses and an implantable lead that applies the stimulation pulses to neural tissue. An activity sensor senses activity level of the patient and a processor, responsive to the activity sensor, controls the provision of the stimulation pulses by the pulse generator. The processor causes the pulse generator to provide stimulation therapy any time the patient is active or when the patient is at rest. The processor further provides long term activity monitoring and closed loop control of neural tissue stimulation levels to adapt the stimulation therapy to changes in the patient'"'"'s condition.

Claims

1. An implantable neural stimulation device for treating peripheral vascular disease of a patient, the device comprising:

a pulse generator that is operative to provide stimulation pulses;

an implantable lead that is configured to apply the stimulation pulses to neural tissue;

an activity sensor that is operative to sense an activity level of the patient; and

a processor that is responsive to the activity sensor to control application of the stimulation pulses by the pulse generator.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor enables the pulse generator to provide the stimulation pulses when the patient is active.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the processor determines a degree of stimulation responsive to the sensed activity level prior to enabling the pulse generator.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the processor increases the degree of stimulation responsive to an increased level of activity of the patient.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the stimulation pulses have a rate, duration and amplitude, and wherein the processor controls the degree of stimulation by varying at least one of rate, duration, and amplitude of the stimulation pulses.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a housing and wherein the activity sensor is within the housing.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the activity sensor senses an activity level of the patient corresponding to an at rest condition of the patient and wherein the processor controls the pulse generator to provide at rest stimulation pulses corresponding to the at rest condition.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the activity sensor senses activity variance to sense the at rest condition.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the processor terminates the provision of the at rest stimulation pulses when the patient is no longer at rest.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the activity sensor senses activity level of the patient over an extended long term time period to provide an indication of progression and regression of the peripheral vascular disease.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the processor determines a degree of stimulation responsive to the indication provided by the activity sensor of the progression and regression of the peripheral vascular disease.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the indication is a long term activity average.

13. An implantable neural stimulation device for treating peripheral vascular disease of a patient, the device comprising:

stimulation means for providing stimulation pulses;

lead means for applying the stimulation pulses to neural tissue;

activity sensing means for sensing activity level of the patient; and

control means responsive to the activity sensing means for controlling application of the stimulation pulses by the stimulating means in relation to the activity level of the patient.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the control means comprises means for enabling the provision of the stimulation pulses when the patient is active.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the control means determines a degree of stimulation responsive to the sensed activity level prior to enabling the provision of the stimulation pulses.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the control means increases the degree of stimulation responsive to an increased level of activity of the patient.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the stimulation pulses have a rate, duration and amplitude, and wherein the control means controls the degree of stimulation by varying at least one of rate, duration, and amplitude of the stimulation pulses.

18. The device of claim 13 further comprising an enclosure means for enclosing the activity sensing means, the stimulation means and the control means.

19. The device of claim 13 wherein the activity sensing means senses an activity level of the patient corresponding to an at rest condition of the patient and wherein the control means controls the stimulation means to provide at rest stimulation pulses corresponding to the at rest condition.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the activity sensing means senses activity variance to sense the at rest condition.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the control means terminates the provision of the at rest stimulation pulses when the patient is no longer at rest.

22. The device of claim 13 wherein the activity sensing means senses activity level of the patient over an extended long term time period to provide an indication of progression and regression of the peripheral vascular disease.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the control means determines a degree of stimulation responsive to the indication provided by the activity sensor of the progression and regression of the peripheral vascular disease.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the indication is a long term activity average.

25. In an implantable neural stimulation device, a method for treating peripheral vascular disease of a patient, the method comprising:

sensing an activity level of the patient; and

providing stimulation pulses to neural tissue as a function of the sensed activity level.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the stimulation pulses are provided when the patient is active.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising determining a degree of stimulation responsive to the sensed activity level prior to providing the stimulation pulses and wherein the stimulation pulses are provided at the determined degree of stimulation.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising increasing the degree of stimulation responsive to an increased level of sensed activity of the patient.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the stimulation pulses have a rate, duration and amplitude, and wherein the method further comprises varying at least one of rate, duration, and amplitude of the stimulation pulses to provide the stimulation pulses at the determined degree of stimulation.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein sensing comprises sensing an activity level of the patient corresponding to an at rest condition of the patient and wherein providing comprises providing at rest stimulation pulses corresponding to the at rest condition.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein sensing comprises sensing activity variance to sense the at rest condition.

32. The method of claim 30 further comprising terminating the provision of the at rest stimulation pulses when the patient is no longer at rest.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein sensing comprises sensing activity level of the patient over an extended long term time period to provide an indication of progression and regression of the peripheral vascular disease.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising determining a degree of stimulation responsive to the indication of the progression and regression of the peripheral vascular disease.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the indication is a long term activity average.