CONNECTING ELECTRICAL SOURCES TO ELECTRODE NODES IN A MEDICAL DEVICE
First Claim
1. An implantable stimulator, comprising:
- a plurality of electrode nodes;
a processor; and
a stimulation generator coupled to the processor and the electrode nodes, the stimulation generator comprising;
a plurality of negative electrical sources that are each directly connected to a different one of the plurality of electrode nodes;
a switching unit that is connected to each of the plurality of electrode nodes; and
at least one positive electrical source connected to the switching unit,wherein the switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the plurality of electrode nodes.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes electrical stimulators that include some electrical sources (e.g., current sources, voltage sources) that are directly connected to a plurality of electrode nodes, and other electrical sources that may be selectively connected to selected ones of the plurality of electrode nodes via a switching unit, such as a multiplexer. One example stimulator comprises a processor, a plurality of electrode nodes, and a stimulation generator that is coupled to the processor and to the plurality of electrode nodes. The stimulation generator comprises a plurality of negative electrical sources, a switching unit, and at least one positive electrical source. The negative electrical sources are each directly connected to a different one of the plurality of electrode nodes. The switching unit is connected to each of the plurality of electrode nodes. The at least one positive electrical source is connected to the switching unit. The switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the plurality of electrode nodes.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulator, comprising:
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a plurality of electrode nodes; a processor; and a stimulation generator coupled to the processor and the electrode nodes, the stimulation generator comprising; a plurality of negative electrical sources that are each directly connected to a different one of the plurality of electrode nodes; a switching unit that is connected to each of the plurality of electrode nodes; and at least one positive electrical source connected to the switching unit, wherein the switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the plurality of electrode nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A stimulation generator, comprising:
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a plurality of negative electrical sources that are each directly connected to a different one of a plurality of electrode nodes that are coupled to the stimulation generator; a switching unit that is connected to each of the plurality of electrode nodes; and at least one positive electrical source connected to the switching unit, wherein the switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the plurality of electrode nodes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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directly connecting each of a plurality of negative electrical sources in a stimulation generator to a different one of a plurality of electrode nodes; connecting a switching unit in the stimulation generator to each of the plurality of electrode nodes; and connecting at least one positive electrical source in the stimulation generator to the switching unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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using an electrode node combination for an implantable stimulator that includes a first set of one or more electrode nodes that are each connected to an anode, wherein the electrode node combination further includes a second set of one or more electrode nodes that are each connected to a cathode; configuring a switching unit in a stimulation generator to connect at least one positive electrical source in the stimulation generator to the first set of one or more electrode nodes; activating the at least one positive electrical source; and activating at least one negative electrical source in the stimulation generator, wherein the at least one negative electrical source is directly connected to the second set of one or more electrode nodes. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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means for using an electrode node combination for an implantable stimulator that includes a first set of one or more electrode nodes that are each connected to an anode, wherein the electrode node combination further includes a second set of one or more electrode nodes that are each connected to a cathode; means for configuring a switching unit in a stimulation generator to connect at least one positive electrical source in the stimulation generator to the first set of one or more electrode nodes; means for activating the at least one positive electrical source; and means for activating at least one negative electrical source in the stimulation generator, wherein the at least one negative electrical source is connected to the second set of one or more electrode nodes.
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Specification