SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NEURAL STIMULATION

• US 20080058871A1
• Filed: 08/29/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhoa, Weiying, Ruble, Stephen, Kramer, Andrew P., Libbus, Imad, Caparso, Anthony V., James, Kristofer J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/365 controlled by a physiological parameter, e.g. heart potential evoked response A61N1/371

Abstract

Various aspects provide an implantable device. In various embodiments, the device comprises at least one port, where each port is adapted to connect a lead with an electrode to the device. The device further includes a stimulation platform, including a sensing circuit connected to the at least one port to sense an intrinsic cardiac signal and a stimulation circuit connected to the at least one port via a stimulation channel to deliver a stimulation signal through the stimulation channel to the electrode. The stimulation circuit is adapted to deliver stimulation signals through the stimulation channel for both neural stimulation therapy and CRM therapy. The sensing and stimulation circuits are adapted to perform CRM functions. The device further includes a controller connected to the sensing circuit and the stimulation circuit to control the neural stimulation therapy and the CRM therapy. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. An implantable device, comprising:

one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating the vagus nerve;

stimulation circuitry for delivering electrical stimulation to the one or more electrodes;

a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry for controlling the delivery of electrical stimulation by the stimulation circuitry; and

,

wherein the controller is configured so that the stimulation circuitry delivers a pulse train with the following approximate parameters;

frequency=20 Hz

pulse width=300 microseconds

amplitude=1.5-2.0 mA.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted for stimulating the vagus nerve are in a bipolar configuration.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating the vagus nerve are in a unipolar configuration that includes a far-field subcutaneous return electrode.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured so that the stimulation circuitry delivers the pulse train as a biphasic pulse train with alternating polarities.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured so that the stimulation circuitry delivers a series of monophasic pulse trains where the polarity of each consecutive pulse train alternates.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to deliver the pulse train continuously.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to deliver the pulse train intermittently for specified periods of time.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to deliver the pulse train intermittently with a duty cycle of 10 seconds ON and 50 seconds OFF.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulation circuitry further comprises a current source pulse output circuit for outputting pulses at a current amplitude specified by the controller.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the stimulation circuitry further comprises a capacitive discharge pulse output circuit and a lead impedance measurement circuit for outputting pulses at a current amplitude specified by the controller

11. An implantable device, comprising:

one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating the vagus nerve;

stimulation circuitry for delivering electrical stimulation to the one or more electrodes;

a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry for controlling the delivery of electrical stimulation by the stimulation circuitry; and

,

wherein the controller is configured so that the stimulation circuitry delivers a series of monophasic pulse trains where the polarity of each consecutive pulse train alternates with first and second phases and further wherein the pulse width, pulse amplitude, duty cycle, and frequency for each of the first and second phases are separately adjustable.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first phase is titrated to achieve a desired therapeutic benefit and the second phase is titrated to achieve a desired reduction in side effects.

13. A method, comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve via one or more electrodes;

wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered as a pulse train with the following approximate parameters;

frequency=20 Hz

pulse width=300 microseconds

amplitude=1.5-2.0 mA.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the one or more electrodes stimulating the vagus nerve are in a bipolar configuration.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the one or more electrodes stimulating the vagus nerve are in a unipolar configuration that includes a far-field subcutaneous return electrode.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising delivering the pulse train as a biphasic pulse train with alternating polarities.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising delivers a series of monophasic pulse trains where the polarity of each consecutive pulse train alternates.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the pulse train is delivered intermittently with a duty cycle of 10 seconds ON and 50 seconds OFF.

19. A method, comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve via one or more electrodes;

wherein the stimulation is delivered as a biphasic pulse train with alternating polarities of first and second phases where the pulse amplitude and pulse width of each of the first and second phases are separately adjustable; and

,

titrating the first phase to achieve a desired therapeutic benefit and titrating the second phase to achieve a desired reduction in side effects.

20. A method, comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve via one or more electrodes;

wherein the stimulation circuitry is delivered as a series of monophasic pulse trains where the polarity of each consecutive pulse train alternates with first and second phases and further wherein the pulse width, pulse amplitude, duty cycle, and frequency for each of the first and second phases are separately adjustable; and

,

titrating the first phase to achieve a desired therapeutic benefit and titrating the second phase to achieve a desired reduction in side effects.

21. An implantable device, comprising:

one or more electrodes adapted for stimulating the vagus nerve;

stimulation circuitry for delivering electrical stimulation to the one or more electrodes;

a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry for controlling the delivery of electrical stimulation by the stimulation circuitry; and

,

wherein the controller is configured so that the stimulation circuitry delivers the pulse train as a biphasic pulse train with alternating polarities of first and second phases where the pulse amplitude and pulse width of each of the first and second phases are separately adjustable.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the controller is configured to titrate the first phase to achieve a desired therapeutic benefit and titrate the second phase to achieve a desired reduction in side effects.