IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATORS HAVING REDUCED POCKET STIMULATION

• US 20100137960A1
• Filed: 12/02/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradley, Kerry, Moffitt, Michael A., Lee, Dongchul
• Application Number:
  US12/629,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20100137960A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36175 Pulse width or duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• 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

Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator.

Claims

1. A method of providing therapy using a neurostimulator implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, comprising:

initially conveying pulsed electrical energy having a pulse width from the neurostimulator, thereby stimulating a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket;

returning the initially conveyed pulsed electrical energy to the neurostimulator, thereby causing stimulation of the tissue pocket;

detecting the tissue pocket stimulation;

decreasing the pulse width in response to the detection of the tissue pocket stimulation;

subsequently conveying pulsed electrical energy having the decreased pulse width from the neurostimulator, thereby stimulating the target tissue site; and

returning the subsequently conveyed pulsed electrical energy to the neurostimulator, wherein any stimulation of the tissue pocket is decreased.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsed electrical energy is initially and subsequently conveyed from the neurostimulator to at least one stimulation lead connected to the neurostimulator to stimulate the target tissue site.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subsequently conveyed electrical energy stimulates the target tissue site, while preventing the stimulation of the tissue pocket.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsed electrical energy is initially and subsequently conveyed between a case of the neurostimulator and the target tissue site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the decreased pulse width is in the range of 10-100 μ

s.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the decreased pulse width is equal to or less than 50 μ

s.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the initially conveyed pulsed electrical energy has a pulse amplitude, the method further comprising increasing the pulse amplitude, wherein the subsequently conveying pulsed electrical energy has the decreased pulse width and the increased pulse amplitude.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pulse width is manually decreased, and the pulse amplitude is automatically increased in response to the manual decrease of the pulse width.