Implantable medical device having multiple electrode/sensor capability and stimulation based on sensed intrinsic activity
First Claim
7. An implantable neurostimulator, comprising:
- a pulse generator that provides an electrical pulse signal to stimulate a cranial nerve in a patient;
a stimulation lead assembly coupled to said pulse generator for delivering said electrical pulse signal to said cranial nerve, said lead assembly having a proximal end coupled to said pulse generator and a distal end comprising a stimulation electrode assembly coupled to said cranial nerve; and
a plurality of sensor elements coupled to said pulse generator and that sense at least two physiological parameters selected from the group consisting of an action potential in a nerve tissue, a heart parameter, a temperature, a blood parameter, and brain wave activity.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an implantable neurostimulator comprises a pulse generator that generates an electrical pulse signal to stimulate a neural structure in a patient, a stimulation lead assembly coupled to the pulse generator for delivering the electrical pulse signal to the neural structure, a plurality of sensors coupled to the pulse generator, and sensor select logic. Each sensor is individually selectable and the sensor select logic selects any two or more of the plurality of sensors for sensing a voltage difference between the selected sensors. In other embodiments, two or more physiologic parameters are sensed. In yet another embodiment, a method comprises sensing intrinsic electrical activity on a person'"'"'s nerve and stimulating the nerve based on the sensed intrinsic electrical activity of the nerve.
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Citations
24 Claims
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7. An implantable neurostimulator, comprising:
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a pulse generator that provides an electrical pulse signal to stimulate a cranial nerve in a patient;
a stimulation lead assembly coupled to said pulse generator for delivering said electrical pulse signal to said cranial nerve, said lead assembly having a proximal end coupled to said pulse generator and a distal end comprising a stimulation electrode assembly coupled to said cranial nerve; and
a plurality of sensor elements coupled to said pulse generator and that sense at least two physiological parameters selected from the group consisting of an action potential in a nerve tissue, a heart parameter, a temperature, a blood parameter, and brain wave activity. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implantable neurostimulator, comprising:
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a pulse generator that provides a therapeutic electrical pulse signal to a nerve in a patient;
a stimulation lead assembly coupled to said pulse generator for delivering said electrical pulse to said nerve, said lead assembly having a proximal end coupled to said pulse generator and a distal end comprising a stimulation electrode assembly coupled to said nerve;
a plurality of sensor elements coupled to said pulse generator for sensing at least two physiological parameters selected from the group consisting of an action potential in a nerve tissue, a heart parameter, a temperature, a blood parameter, and brain wave activity, each of said sensor elements adapted to provide a sensor signal representative of at least one physiological parameter; and
a controller that receives and analyzes sensor signals from at least two of said sensor elements;
wherein said pulse generator generates said therapeutic electrical pulse signal in response to said analysis by said controller. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method of providing electrical neurostimulation therapy to a patient, comprising:
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receiving sensor signals from at least two sensors in a patient;
performing an analysis based on said at least two sensor signals to determine whether electrical neurostimulation is needed; and
providing an electrical pulse to a nerve in the patient when it is determined that electrical neurostimulation is needed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of providing electrical neurostimulation therapy to a patient, comprising:
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sensing at least two physiological parameters selected from the group consisting of voltage fluctuations in a nerve tissue, a heart parameter, a temperature, a blood parameter, and brain wave activity;
performing an analysis based on said at least two sensed physiological parameters to determine whether electrical neurostimulation is needed; and
providing an electrical pulse to a nerve in the patient when it is determined that electrical neurostimulation is needed. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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sensing intrinsic electrical activity on a cranial nerve of a patient; and
stimulating the cranial nerve based on the sensed intrinsic electrical activity. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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23-1. The implantable neurostimulator of claim 22 wherein the control logic causes the nerve to be stimulated to block intrinsic electrical activity of said cranial nerve.
Specification