NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM

• US 20100198315A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Bakken Research Center B.V. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Cantatore, Eugenio, Martens, Hubert Cecile Francois, Decre, Michel Marcel Jose
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The invention relates to a neurostimulation system, particularly for deep brain stimulation (DBS), comprising a spatial array (130) of stimulation electrodes (132) and an associated controller (110). The controller (110) is adapted to sequentially supply electrical pulses to different subsets of the stimulation electrodes (132). Preferably, the controller (110) comprises a single pulse-generator (112) and a multiplexing unit (111) for distributing the pulses to different stimulation electrodes. The stimulation electrodes (132) may preferably be arranged on probes (131).

Claims

1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:

a) a plurality of stimulation electrodes (132) that are arranged in a spatial array;

b) a controller (110) for controlling the sequential supply of electrical pulses to different subsets of all stimulation electrodes.

2. The neurostimulation system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the controller (110) comprises at least one pulse-generator (112) and a pulse-distribution device (111) for distributing pulses generated by the pulse-generator to different stimulation electrodes (132).

3. The neurostimulation system according to claim 2,

characterized in that it comprises a plurality of pulse-generators (112), each having an associated pulse-distribution device.

4. The neurostimulation system according to claim 2,

characterized in that it comprises a plurality of pulse-generators (112) and that the pulse-distribution device can couple different pulse-generators to different subsets of all stimulation electrodes (132).

5. The neurostimulation system according to claim 2,

characterized in that the pulse-distribution device comprises a constant routing of pulse-generators to subsets of stimulation electrodes (132).

6. The neurostimulation system according to claim 2,

characterized in that the pulse-distribution device comprises a multiplexing unit (111) for multiplexing pulses generated by the pulse-generator (112) to individual stimulation electrodes and/or to subsets of stimulation electrodes (132).

7. The neurostimulation system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the controller (110) is adapted to apply the electrical pulses cyclically to the subsets of stimulation electrodes (132).

8. The neurostimulation system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the controller (110) is adapted to supply electrical pulses of different waveform to different stimulation electrodes (132).

9. The neurostimulation system according to claim 1,

characterized in that it comprises a plurality of probes (131) that are arranged in a spatial array (130) and that have at least one stimulation electrode (132) each.

10. The neurostimulation system according to claim 9,

characterized in that each subset comprises stimulation electrodes (132) from one associated probe (131) only.

11. The neurostimulation system according to claim 9,

characterized in that the probes (131) have an axial extension and are arranged parallel to each other with respect to their axes.

12. The neurostimulation system according to claim 1,

characterized in that the subsets of stimulation electrodes (132) are arranged such that their activation volumes touch.

13. The neurostimulation system according to claim 9,

characterized in that the probes (131) are arranged at a distance from each other that corresponds to a value of about 50% to about 500% of their diameter.

14. The neurostimulation system according to claim 9,

characterized in that the probes (131) are distributed over an area of about 20 mm² to about 400 mm².

15. A method for controlling a plurality of stimulation electrodes (132) of a neurostimulation system that are arranged in a spatial array, comprising:

a) generating a sequence of electrical pulses;

b) distributing said pulses sequentially to different subsets of stimulation electrodes.