METHOD TO DETECT PROPER LEAD CONNECTION IN AN IMPLANTABLE STIMULATION SYSTEM

• US 20100106206A1
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gin, Marco Henry, Gould, Christopher B., Aghassian, Daniel, Moffitt, Michael A., Parramon, Jordi
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37 Monitoring; Protecting
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/083 Monitoring integrity of contacts, e.g. by impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/68 Testing of releasable connections, e.g. of terminals mounted on a printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/58 Contacts spaced along longitudinal axis of engagement

Abstract

An implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator for coupling to a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end. The implantable pulse generator comprises a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead, the connector having at least one contact, and a sensor configured and arranged for detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator and the lead, the sensor comprising at least one sensor contact, the sensor contact being configured and arranged for electrically coupling to a terminal of the lead and at least one of the contacts of the connector when the lead is fully inserted in the connector and thereby detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator and the lead.

Claims

1. An implantable pulse generator for coupling to a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end, the implantable pulse generator comprising:

a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead, wherein the connector further comprises at least one contact; and

a sensor configured and arranged for detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator and the lead, the sensor comprising at least one sensor contact, the sensor contact being configured and arranged for electrically coupling to a terminal of the lead and at least one of the contacts of the connector when the lead is fully inserted in the connector and thereby detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator and the lead.

2. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises more than one sensor contact to detect electrical coupling between the implantable pulse generator and the lead.

3. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a loss of electrical coupling between the implantable pulse generator and the lead.

4. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1, wherein the sensor contact is configured and arranged to couple with the most proximal contact of the connector and the most proximal terminal of the lead.

5. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1, further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to the sensor, the indicator configured and arranged for providing at least one signal when the sensor detects an initiation of electrical coupling between the contact, the sensor contact and the terminal.

6. The implantable pulse generator of claim 5, wherein the indicator is configured and arranged to provide at least one of an audio signal, a visual signal, a tactile signal, an olfactory signal, or a telemetry signal to a remote electronic device.

7. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1, further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to the sensor, the indicator configured and arranged for providing at least one signal when the sensor detects a loss of electrical coupling between the contact, the sensor contact and the terminal.

8. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1, further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to the sensor, the indicator configured and arranged for providing at least one signal when the sensor detects electrical coupling between the contact, the sensor contact and the terminal.

9. An implantable stimulation system comprising:

the implantable pulse generator of claim 1; and

a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end.

10. An external trial stimulation device for coupling to a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end, the external trial stimulation device comprising:

a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead, wherein the connector further comprises at least one contact; and

a sensor configured and arranged for detecting electrical connectivity between the external trial stimulation device and the lead, the sensor comprising at least one sensor contact, the sensor contact being configured and arranged for electrically coupling to a terminal of the lead and at least one of the contacts of the connector when the lead is fully inserted in the connector and thereby detecting electrical connectivity between the external trial stimulation device and the lead.

11. The external trial stimulation device of claim 10, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a loss of electrical coupling between the external trial stimulation device and the lead.

12. The external trial stimulation device of claim 10, wherein the sensor contact is configured and arranged to couple with the most proximal contact of the connector and the most proximal terminal of the lead.

13. The external trial stimulation device of claim 10, further comprising an indicator electrically coupled to the sensor, the indicator configured and arranged for providing at least one signal when the sensor detects an initiation of electrical coupling between the contact, the sensor contact and the terminal.

14. An implantable stimulation system comprising:

the external trial stimulation device of claim 10; and

a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end.

15. A method for detecting lead connection in an implantable stimulation system, the method comprising:

receiving the proximal end of a lead in a connector of an implantable pulse generator, wherein the connector comprises at least one contact and the lead comprises at least one terminal;

monitoring the coupling of the contact and the terminal through the use of a sensor, comprising at least one sensor contact configured and arranged for coupling to a first contact of the at least one contact and a first terminal of the at least one terminal when the lead is properly received by the connector, by determining electrical coupling between the first contact, the sensor contact and the first terminal; and

providing an indication in response to the sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising implanting the distal end of a lead into a patient so that the proximal end of the lead extends from the patient.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the coupling comprises monitoring an impedance between the first contact and the sensor contact and wherein providing an indication comprises providing an indication of lead connection when the impedance value falls within a predetermined range.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising ceasing electrical stimulation when the sensor detects at a lack of lead connection to the implantable stimulation system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein providing an indication comprises providing an indication using at least one of a visual, tactile, audible, telemetric, or olfactory signal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing an indication comprises providing an indication using an electronic device remote from the implantable pulse generator and lead.