METHODS TO AVOID FREQUENCY LOCKING IN A MULTI-CHANNEL NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM USING PULSE SHIFTING

• US 20110054567A1
• Filed: 08/28/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, DiGiore, Andrew, Bradley, Kerry, Moffitt, Michael, Peterson, David K.L., Lane, Courtney
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/30 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 : Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36178 : Burst or pulse train parameters

Abstract

A method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms are temporally shifted in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient using a multi-channel neurostimulation system, the method comprising:

delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient;

predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and

temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises alternately shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set between the timing channels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises:

temporally shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set forward; and

temporally shifting another of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set backward.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises:

determining which pulse of each potentially overlapping pulse set would need to be shifted the least to prevent overlapping of the stimulation pulses within the respective potentially overlapping pulse set; and

temporally shifting the determined pulse of each potentially overlapping pulse set.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises:

determining sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will not potentially overlap temporally; and

temporally shifting at least one pulse in each of the non-overlapping pulse sets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises temporally shifting at least one pulse in each potentially overlapping pulse set a random amount.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining the random amount by multiplying a nominal pulse shift by a randomization variable.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising limiting the random amount that differs from the nominal pulse shift.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsed electrical waveforms are delivered via a common electrode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsed electrical waveforms have different pulse frequencies.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining the pulsed electrical waveforms in response to a user input.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting a charge recovery pulse and a stimulation pulse within the electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and

dropping or temporally shifting at least a portion of the charge recovery pulse, thereby preventing temporal overlap between the charge recovery pulse and the stimulation pulse of the respective electrical waveforms.

13. A multi-channel neurostimulation system, comprising:

a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes;

analog output circuitry configured for delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels to the electrical terminals; and

control circuitry configured for predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally, and temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

14. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is configured for shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms by alternately shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set between the timing channels.

15. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is configured for temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical by temporally shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set forward, and temporally shifting another of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set backward.

16. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is configured for temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms by determining which pulse of each potentially overlapping pulse set would need to be shifted the least to prevent overlapping of the stimulation pulses within the respective potentially overlapping pulse set, and temporally shifting the determined pulse of each potentially overlapping pulse set.

17. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is configured for temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms by determining sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will not potentially overlap temporally, and temporally shifting at least one pulse in each of the non-overlapping pulse sets.

18. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is configured for temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms by temporally shifting at least one pulse in each potentially overlapping pulse set a random amount.

19. The neurostimulation system of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is configured for determining the random amount by multiplying a nominal pulse shift by a randomization variable.

20. The neurostimulation system of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is further configured for limiting the random amount that differs from the nominal pulse shift.

21. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the analog output circuitry is configured for delivering the pulsed electrical waveforms via a common electrode.

22. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the pulsed electrical waveforms have different pulse frequencies.

23. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured for defining the pulsed electrical waveforms in response to a user input.

24. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, wherein the control circuitry is further configured for predicting a charge recovery pulse and a stimulation pulse within the electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally, and dropping or temporally shifting at least a portion of the charge recovery pulse, thereby preventing temporal overlap between the charge recovery pulse and the stimulation pulse of the respective electrical waveforms.

25. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, further comprising the plurality of electrodes.

26. The neurostimulation system of claim 13, further comprising a housing containing the plurality of electrical terminals, analog output circuitry, and control circuitry.