CONNECTING ELECTRICAL SOURCES TO ELECTRODE NODES IN A MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20100042187A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Werder, Jonathan C., Heathershaw, Todd D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

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.

Claims

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.

2. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the switching unit to connect the at least one positive electrical source to the selected one or more of the plurality of electrode nodes.

3. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of negative electrical sources is directly connected to a first electrode node in the plurality of electrode nodes, and wherein the switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a second electrode node in the plurality of electrode nodes, such that a first electrode connected to the first electrode node comprises a cathode and a second electrode connected to the second electrode node comprises an anode.

4. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, wherein the at least one positive electrical source comprises a plurality of positive electrical sources that are each connected to the switching unit, and wherein the switching unit is configured to connect each of the plurality of positive electrical sources to a selected one of the plurality of electrode nodes.

5. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, wherein the stimulation generator further comprises:

a second plurality of negative electrical sources that are each directly connected to a different one of a second plurality of electrode nodes;

a second switching unit that is connected to the second plurality of electrode nodes; and

at least one additional positive electrical source connected to the second switching unit,

wherein the second switching unit is configured to connect the at least one additional positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the second plurality of electrode nodes.

6. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, further comprising at least one lead that includes a plurality of electrodes, each of the electrodes connected to a respective one of the plurality of electrode nodes.

7. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, wherein the switching unit comprises at least one multiplexer.

8. The implantable stimulator of claim 1, wherein the stimulation generator comprises a pulse generator, and wherein the plurality of negative electrical sources and the at least one positive electrical source are each selected from a group consisting of a current source and a voltage source.

9. A stimulation generator, comprising:

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.

10. The stimulation generator of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of negative electrical sources is directly connected to a first electrode nodes in the plurality of electrode nodes, and wherein the switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a second electrode nodes in the plurality of electrode nodes, such that a first electrode connected to the first electrode node comprises a cathode and a second electrode connected to the second electrode node comprises an anode.

11. The stimulation generator of claim 9, wherein the at least one positive electrical source comprises a plurality of positive electrical sources that are each connected to the switching unit, and wherein the switching unit is configured to connect each of the plurality of positive electrical sources to a selected one of the plurality of electrode nodes.

12. The stimulation generator of claim 9, wherein the stimulation generator further comprises:

a second plurality of negative electrical sources that are each directly connected to a different one of a second plurality of electrode nodes;

a second switching unit that is connected to the second plurality of electrode nodes; and

at least one additional positive electrical source connected to the second switching unit,

wherein the second switching unit is configured to connect the at least one additional positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the second plurality of electrode nodes.

13. The stimulation generator of claim 9, wherein the switching unit comprises at least one multiplexer.

14. The stimulation generator of claim 9, wherein the stimulation generator comprises a pulse generator, and wherein the plurality of negative electrical sources and the at least one positive electrical source are each selected from a group consisting of a current source and a voltage source.

15. A method comprising:

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.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

directly connecting each of a second plurality of negative electrical sources in the stimulation generator to a different one of a second plurality of electrode nodes;

connecting a second switching unit in the stimulation generator to each of the second plurality of electrode nodes; and

connecting at least one additional positive electrical source in the stimulation generator to the second switching unit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the switching unit comprises at least one multiplexer.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the stimulation generator comprises a pulse generator, and wherein the plurality of negative electrical sources and the at least one positive electrical source are each selected from a group consisting of a current source and a voltage source.

19. A method comprising:

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.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

deactivating at least one additional negative electrical source that is connected to the first set of one or more electrode nodes.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one positive electrical source comprises a plurality of positive electrical sources, wherein the first set of one or more electrode nodes comprises a first plurality of electrode nodes, and wherein the method comprises configuring the switching unit to connect each of the plurality of positive electrical sources to a selected one of the first plurality of electrode nodes.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

using a second electrode node combination for the implantable stimulator that includes a third set of one or more electrode nodes that are each connected to an anode, wherein the second electrode node combination further includes a fourth set of one or more electrode nodes that are each connected to a cathode;

configuring a second switching unit in the stimulation generator to connect at least one additional positive electrical source in the stimulation generator to the third set of one or more electrode nodes;

activating the at least one additional positive electrical source; and

activating at least one additional negative electrical source in the stimulation generator, wherein the at least one additional negative electrical source is directly connected to the fourth set of one or more electrode nodes.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the switching unit comprises at least one multiplexer.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the stimulation generator comprises a pulse generator, and wherein the at least one negative electrical source and the at least one positive electrical source are each selected from a group consisting of a current source and a voltage source.

25. An apparatus comprising:

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.