USE OF STIMULATION PULSE SHAPE TO CONTROL NEURAL RECRUITMENT ORDER AND CLINICAL EFFECT

• US 20090024189A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Ewan Gillespie, Christopher, Bradley, Kerry, Moffitt, Michael, Lee, Dongchul
• Granted Patent: US 8,036,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3614 based on impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave

Abstract

A method, electrical tissue stimulation system, and programmer for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrodes are placed adjacent tissue (e.g., spinal cord tissue) of the patient, electrical stimulation energy is delivered from the electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform, and a pulse shape of the defined waveform is modified, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the electrode(s) to the tissue. The pulse shape may be modified by selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types or by adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape.

Claims

1. A method of providing therapy to a patient, comprising:

placing one or more electrodes adjacent tissue of the patient;

delivering electrical stimulation energy from the one or more electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform; and

modifying a pulse shape of the defined waveform in response to a user input, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the one or more electrodes to the tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the pulse shape comprises selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the different pulse shape types comprise a square pulse and an exponential pulse.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the different pulse shape types comprise at least two of a square pulse, an exponential pulse, a logarithmic pulse, a ramped pulse, a trapezoidal pulse, and a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the different pulse shape types comprise a negatively sloping pulse and a positively sloping pulse.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the negatively sloping pulse is a negatively sloping exponential pulse, and the positively sloping pulse is a positively sloping exponential pulse.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the negatively sloping pulse is a negatively sloping linear ramp pulse, and the positively sloping pulse is a positively sloping linear ramp pulse.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying pulse shape comprises adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse shape and other pulse parameters of the defined waveform are modified independent of each other.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse shape and at least one other pulse parameter of the defined waveform are modified dependent upon each other.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one other pulse parameter is modified in response to the modification of the pulse shape to maintain a substantially uniform charge of the electrical stimulation energy.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring one or more electrical characteristics of the tissue, wherein the pulse shape is modified based on the measured one or more electrical characteristics.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the pulse shape is modified in response to a change in the measured one or more electrical characteristics.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is spinal cord tissue.

15. An implantable electrical tissue stimulation system, comprising:

one or more electrical terminals configured for being coupled to one or more stimulation leads;

output stimulation circuitry capable of outputting electrical stimulation energy to the one or more electrical terminals in accordance with a defined waveform; and

control circuitry configured for modifying a pulse shape of the defined waveform in response to a user input, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy outputted to the one or more electrodes.

36. A programmer for an electrical tissue stimulator, comprising:

a user interface capable of receiving an input from a user;

a processor configured for generating a plurality of stimulation parameter sets defining a plurality of different pulse shapes in response to the user input; and

output circuitry configured for transmitting the plurality of stimulation parameter sets to the neurostimulator.