Shifting between electrode combinations in electrical stimulation device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- delivering electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination;
delivering electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination;
incrementally increasing an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination; and
incrementally decreasing an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure is directed to techniques for shifting between two electrode combinations. An amplitude of a first electrode combination is incrementally decreased while an amplitude of a second, or subsequent, electrode combination is concurrently incrementally increased. Alternatively, an amplitude of the first electrode combination is maintained at a target amplitude level while the amplitude of the second electrode combination is incrementally increased. The stimulation pulses of the electrode combinations are delivered to the patient interleaved in time. In this manner, the invention provides for a smooth, gradual shift from a first electrode combination to a second electrode combination, allowing the patient to maintain a continual perception of stimulation. The shifting techniques described herein may be used during programming to shift between different electrode combinations to find an efficacious electrode combination. Additionally, the techniques may be used for shifting between different electrode combinations associated with different stimulation programs or program sets.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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delivering electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination;
delivering electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination;
incrementally increasing an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination; and
incrementally decreasing an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising:
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a medical device that includes;
one or more electrodes, a pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation via the electrodes, and a switch device to couple the stimulation to selected electrodes; and
a programmer that programs the medical device, wherein the programmer controls the medical device to;
deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination, deliver electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, incrementally increase an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, and incrementally decrease an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A medical device comprising:
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one or more implantable leads that include a plurality of electrodes;
a pulse generator to deliver stimulation energy;
a switch device to couple the stimulation energy to selected electrodes; and
a processor to control the pulse generator and the switch device to deliver stimulation to the patient in accordance with a plurality of programs, wherein the processor controls the pulse generator and the switch device to;
deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination, deliver electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, incrementally increase an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, and incrementally decrease an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A programmer comprising:
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a processor that generates instructions to control an implantable pulse generator and deliver stimulation to a patient in accordance with a plurality of programs, wherein the instructions direct;
delivery of electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination, delivery of electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, incremental increases in an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, and incremental decreases in an amplitude of the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination while the electrical stimulation delivered via the second electrode combination is delivered on a time-interleaved basis with the electrical stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination; and
a telemetry interface to transmit the instructions to the implantable pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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- 41. The programmer of 40, further comprising a user interface that receives user input to identify the second electrode combination.
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45. A method comprising:
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delivering electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination carried by one or more implantable leads;
delivering electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the stimulation delivery via the first electrode combination carried by one or more implantable leads; and
incrementally shifting the delivery of stimulation from the first electrode combination to the second electrode combination.
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46. A system comprising:
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an medical device that includes;
one or more implantable leads that include a plurality of electrodes;
a pulse generator to deliver electrical stimulation; and
a switch device to couple the stimulation to selected electrodes; and
a programmer that programs the medical device, wherein the programmer controls the medical device to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination, deliver electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, and incrementally shift the delivery of stimulation from the first electrode combination to the second electrode combination.
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47. A medical device comprising:
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one or more implantable leads that include a plurality of electrodes;
a pulse generator to deliver stimulation energy;
a switch device to couple the stimulation energy to selected electrodes; and
a processor to control the pulse generator and the switch device to deliver stimulation to the patient in accordance with a plurality of programs, wherein the processor controls the pulse generator and the switch device to deliver stimulation to the patient via a first electrode combination and to deliver electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination on a time-interleaved basis with the stimulation delivered via the first electrode combination, and wherein the processor incrementally shifts the delivery of stimulation from the first electrode combination to the second electrode combination.
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Specification