Variable output ramping for an implantable medical device

• US 20070097593A1
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LivaNova USA, Inc. (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Cyberonics, Inc
• Inventors: Armstrong, Randolph
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for providing a stimulation signal comprising a variable ramping portion using an implantable medical device (IMD). The first electrical comprises a first ramping portion. The first ramping portion comprises a first parameter selected from the group consisting of an amplitude, a rate of change of the amplitude, a time period of a rate of change of the amplitude, a pulse width, a rate of change of the pulse width, a time period of a rate of change of the pulse width, a frequency, a rate of change of the frequency, a time period of a rate of change of the frequency, and a duration of a time period of the ramping portion, the first parameter having a first value. The first electrical signal is applied to a target location of the patient'"'"'s body. A second electrical signal comprising a second ramping portion is generated. The second ramping portion comprises the first parameter having a second value that is different from the first value. The second electrical signal is applied to a target location of the patient'"'"'s body.

Claims

1. A method for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a patient using an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

generating a first electrical signal comprising a first ramping portion comprising a first parameter selected from the group consisting of an amplitude, a rate of change of said amplitude, a time period of a rate of change of said amplitude, a pulse width, a rate of change of said pulse width, a time period of a rate of change of said pulse width, a frequency, a rate of change of said frequency, a time period of a rate of change of said frequency, and a duration of a time period of said ramping portion, said first parameter having a first value;

applying said first electrical signal to a target location of the patient'"'"'s body;

generating a second electrical signal comprising a second ramping portion comprising said first parameter having a second value different from said first value; and

applying said second electrical signal to a target location of the patient'"'"'s body.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said first electrical signal comprising a first ramping portion comprises generating at least one of a ramping-up portion having said first parameter and a ramping-down portion having said first parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said second ramping portion comprises at least one of a ramping-up portion having said second value and a ramping-down portion having said second value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said second electrical signal comprises generating a second value that differs randomly from said first value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating said second electrical signal comprises providing a multi-phasic signal for said ramping portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a second electrical signal comprises generating an electrical signal in response to at least one of an external command, an internal programmed command, and a feedback indication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a second electrical signal comprises generating said second value in response to data relating to an efficacy associated with said stimulation using said IMD.

8. A method for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a patient using an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

determining a first value of a first parameter of a first ramping portion associated with a first electrical signal, said parameter selected from the group consisting of an amplitude, a rate of change of said amplitude, a time period of a rate of change of said amplitude, a pulse width, a rate of change of said pulse width, a time period of a rate of change of said pulse width, a frequency, a rate of change of said frequency, a time period of a rate of change of said frequency, and a duration of a time period of said ramping portion;

delivering said first electrical signal to a target location of the patient'"'"'s body;

modifying said first value to provide a second value for said first parameter;

generating a second electrical signal comprising a second ramping portion having said second value of said first parameter; and

applying said second electrical signal to a target location of the patient'"'"'s body.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining said first value of said first parameter comprises programming said first value of said first parameter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein modifying said first value to provide said second value comprises re-programming said first value to provide said second value.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein modifying said first value to provide said second value comprises performing a random modification of said first value.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein modifying said first value comprises providing a multi-phasic signal for said first ramping portion.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein modifying said first value to provide said second value comprises modifying said amplitude from at least one of a zero level to a non-zero level and a non-zero level to a zero level.

14. A method for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a patient using an implantable medical device (IMD), comprising:

determining a characteristic of a ramping portion of a stimulation signal provided by said IMD, said characteristic selected from the group consisting of an amplitude, a rate of change of said amplitude, a time period of a rate of change of said amplitude, a pulse width, a rate of change of said pulse width, a time period of a rate of change of said pulse width, a frequency, a rate of change of said frequency, a time period of a rate of change of said frequency, and a duration of a time period of said ramping portion; and

providing said stimulation signal based upon said characteristic of said ramping portion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining said characteristic of said ramping portion comprises programming said characteristic of said ramping portion of said stimulation signal.

16. An implantable medical device (IMD) for providing an electrical neurostimulation therapy to a patient, comprising:

a stimulation unit to provide a first electrical signal comprising a first ramping portion, said first ramping portion comprising a first characteristic selected from the group consisting of an amplitude, a rate of change of said amplitude, a time period of a rate of change of said amplitude, a pulse width, a rate of change of said pulse width, a time period of a rate of change of said pulse width, a frequency, a rate of change of said frequency, a time period of a rate of change of said frequency, and a duration of a time period of said first ramping portion; and

a controller operatively coupled to said stimulation unit, said controller to control a first value of said first characteristic of said first ramping portion.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein said controller performs an operation to change said first value of said first characteristic randomly to generate a second value for said first characteristic to enable said stimulation unit to provide a second ramping portion for a second electrical signal.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein said controller controls a second value for said first characteristic to provide a second ramping portion for a second electrical signal, said IMD further comprising a ramping signal generator to generate said ramping portion of said first and second electrical signals.

19. The implantable medical device of claim 18, wherein said controller is a multi-phasic controller to provide a multi-phasic signal for at least one of said first and second ramping portions.

20. The implantable medical device of claim 19, wherein said multi-phasic controller comprises a multi-phasic pulse description array comprising data for providing at least one feature for at least one pulse of said first and second electrical signals during a first phase and for providing at least one feature for said at least one pulse during a second phase.

21. The implantable medical device of claim 18, further comprising a sensor for a physiological parameter to provide physiological data for controlling at least one of said first value and said second value of said first characteristic of at least one of said first and second electrical signals

22. The implantable medical device of claim 16, wherein said first ramping portion of said first electrical signal further comprises a second characteristic selected from the group consisting of an amplitude, a rate of change of said amplitude, a time period of a rate of change of said amplitude, a pulse width, a rate of change of said pulse width, a time period of a rate of change of said pulse width, a frequency, a rate of change of said frequency, a time period of a rate of change of said frequency, and a duration of a time period of said first ramping portion.