Multi-Electrode Implantable Stimulator Device with a Single Current Path Decoupling Capacitor

• US 20080097529A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Nimmagadda, Kiran, Feldman, Emanuel, He, Yuping, Parramon, Jordi
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Disclosed herein are circuits and methods for a multi-electrode implantable stimulator device incorporating one decoupling capacitor in the current path established via at least one cathode electrode and at least one anode electrode. In one embodiment, the decoupling capacitor may be hard-wired to a dedicated anode on the device. The cathodes are selectively activatable via stimulation switches. In another embodiment, any of the electrodes on the devices can be selectively activatable as an anode or cathode. In this embodiment, the decoupling capacitor is placed into the current path via selectable anode and cathode stimulation switches. Regardless of the implementation, the techniques allow for the benefits of capacitive decoupling without the need to associate decoupling capacitors with every electrode on the multi-electrode device, which saves space in the body of the device. Although of particular benefit when applied to microstimulators, the disclosed technique can be used with space-saving benefits in any stimulator device.

Claims

1. A multi-electrode stimulator device, comprising:

a body for the device;

three or more electrodes coupled to the device body, including one anode and one cathode, at least some or all of the electrodes being selectable to act as the one anode or the one cathode; and

a single decoupling capacitor positioned in the current path between the anode and the cathode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the stimulator device comprises a microstimulator.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are carried on the body of the device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein either the anode or the cathode is dedicated and not selectable.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the decoupling capacitor is connected to the dedicated anode or cathode.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising recovery circuitry for shunting plates of the decoupling capacitor to a common potential after provision of a stimulation pulse.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising current generation circuitry for forcing the current though the current path.

8. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:

a body for the device;

three or more electrodes coupled to the device body, wherein a first one of the electrodes is an anode or a cathode, and wherein the remaining electrodes are selectable to act as one or more of the other of the anode or the cathode; and

a single decoupling capacitor positioned in the current path between the first electrode and the remaining electrodes.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein a first plate of the decoupling capacitor is connected to the first electrode.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising recovery circuitry for shunting plates of the decoupling capacitor to a common potential after provision of a stimulation pulse.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising current generation circuitry for forcing the current though the current path.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the remaining electrodes are selectable via switches associated with each selectable electrode.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the first electrode is dedicated as an anode or a cathode.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the first electrode is selectable to be either the anode or the cathode.

15. The device of claim 8, wherein the first electrode is an anode the remaining electrodes are cathodes.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the implantable stimulator device comprises a micro stimulator.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the electrodes are carried on the body of the device.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the first electrode is dedicated and not selectable.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the decoupling capacitor is connected to the dedicated anode or cathode.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the switches comprise a switching matrix to allow any of the plurality of the electrodes to act as either the first electrode or the at least one second electrode.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the plurality of switches is between the electrodes and the current generation circuitry.

16. A multi-electrode stimulator device, comprising:

a body for the device;

three or more electrodes coupled to the device body, including a first electrode which is either an anode or a cathode, and at least one second electrode which is or are the other of the anode or the cathode;

current generation circuitry with the body, wherein the current generation circuitry drives a current in a current path between the first electrode and the at least one second electrode;

a single decoupling capacitor within the body and positioned in the current path; and

a plurality of switches for allowing the selection of at least some or all of the electrodes as the first electrode or the at least one second electrode.