Pulse generator for high impedance electrodes

• US 20060052826A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Kim, Daniel H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 Body-piercing guide needles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a pulse generator for high impedance electrodes as well as stimulation systems and components for selective stimulation and/or neuromodulation of targeted neural tissue. Targeted neural tissue may include one or more dorsal root ganglia with an electrode implanted on, in or around a dorsal root ganglia. Some other embodiments of the present invention provide methods for selective neurostimulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia as well as techniques for applying neurostimulation to the spinal cord. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide stimulation systems and components for selective stimulation and/or neuromodulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia through implantation of an electrode on, in or around a dorsal root ganglia in combination with a pharmacological agent.

Claims

1. A pulse generator, comprising:

at least one switch connected to at least one implantable electrode having an impedance greater than 2,500 ohms;

a DC-DC converter adapted to provide a stimulation signal to the at least one implantable electrode; and

a controller configured to control the output of the DC-DC converter.

2. The pulse generator according to claim 1 wherein the at least one switch, the DC-DC converter and the controller are adapted to be implanted in a human body.

3. The pulse generator according to claim 1 wherein the controller controls the output of the DC-DC converter to deliver a stimulation signal according to an algorithm for blocking pain signals.

4. The pulse generator according to claim 1 further comprising a receiver for receiving instructions and a transmitter for transmitting information.

5. The pulse generator according to claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to provide a voltage from 0 volts to 30 volts.

6. The pulse generator according to claim 1 wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to provide a voltage from 0 volts to 40 volts.

7. The pulse generator according to claim 1 further comprising a position sensor.

8. The pulse generator according to claim 4 wherein the receiver and the transmitter are implantable in the body and adapted receive and transmit information percutaneously.

9. The pulse generator according to claim 7 wherein the position sensor is adapted to indicate activity level of a person.

10. The pulse generator according to claim 7 wherein the position sensor comprises an accelerometer.

11. A stimulation system, comprising:

a pulse generator;

an electrode connector having a flexible, elongate body with a proximal end electrically connected to the pulse generator and a distal end adapted to connect to a microelectrode lead, wherein the microelectrode lead connects proximally to the electrode connector distal end and has a distal microelectrode electrically connected to the pulse generator.

12. The stimulation system according to claim 11, the pulse generator further comprising a DC-DC converter.

13. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the microelectrode has an area of less than 3 mm².

14. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the microelectrode has an impedance of more than 2500 Ω

.

15. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the pulse generator, the electrode connector, the microelectrode lead, and the microelectrode are adapted to be implanted in a human body.

16. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the electrode connector is sufficiently long to extend from the pulse generator implanted at a first anatomical site to the microelectrode implanted at a second anatomical site.

17. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the electrode connector distal end is adapted to connect to a plurality of microelectrode leads.

18. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the electrode connector is configured to act as a return electrode.

19. The stimulation system according to claim 11 further comprising a position sensor configured to provide a signal used by the pulse generator to determine a stimulation pattern based on the level of activity.

20. The stimulation system according to claim 11 wherein the position sensor comprises an accelerometer.

21. The stimulation system according to claim 12 wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to provide a voltage from 0 volts to 30 volts.

22. The stimulation system according to claim 12 wherein the DC-DC converter is configured to provide a voltage from 0 volts to 40 volts.