MEDICAL DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE CHANNEL INDEPENDENT RATE CONTROL

• US 20110184496A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kallmyer, Todd A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,137,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency

Abstract

Techniques are described in this disclosure for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient over multiple channels, with independent rate control for each channel, using a single stimulation generator. In one example, the disclosure describes a method for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient that includes delivering first electrical stimulation pulses at a first programmed rate on a first channel using a stimulation generator, and delivering second electrical stimulation pulses at a second programmed rate on a second channel using the stimulation generator, the second programmed rate being different than the first programmed rate, and the second programmed rate being independent of the first programmed rate.

Claims

1. A method for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, the method comprising:

delivering first electrical stimulation pulses at a first programmed rate on a first channel using a stimulation generator; and

delivering second electrical stimulation pulses at a second programmed rate on a second channel using the stimulation generator, wherein the second programmed rate is different than the first programmed rate, and wherein the second programmed rate is independent of the first programmed rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrical stimulation pulses is associated with a first recharge pulse having a first recharge interval, and wherein each of the second electrical stimulation pulses is associated with a second recharge pulse having a second recharge interval, the method further comprising:

adjusting at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval in order to maintain at least one of the first programmed rate and the second programmed rate.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting comprises at least one of increasing by a predetermined amount and decreasing by a predetermined amount.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first recharge pulse has a first recharge amplitude, and wherein the second recharge pulse has a second recharge amplitude, the method further comprising:

increasing one of the first recharge amplitude and the second recharge amplitude upon decreasing a corresponding one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval, respectively.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

decreasing one of the first recharge amplitude and the second recharge amplitude upon increasing a corresponding one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval, respectively.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein adjusting at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval comprises:

adjusting the first recharge interval based on a first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel and a second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel; and

adjusting the second recharge interval based on the first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel and the second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

providing a first queue associated with the first channel;

providing a second queue associated with the second channel; and

populating the first and second queues according to a set of rules,

wherein adjusting the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval is based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein adjusting the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues comprises:

summing the population of the first queue and the population of the second queue;

comparing the sum to at least one predetermined value; and

determining whether to adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based on the comparison.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a first rate counter, the first rate counter associated with the first channel, wherein the first rate counter counts either upward or downward to a first predetermined value that corresponds to the first programmed rate;

providing a second rate counter, the second rate counter associated with the second channel, wherein the second rate counter counts either upward or downward to a second predetermined value that corresponds to the second programmed rate,

wherein populating the first queue according to a set of rules includes incrementing the population of the first queue when the first rate counter reaches the first predetermined value and decrementing the population of the first queue after each one of the first electrical stimulation pulses is delivered,

wherein populating the second queue according to a set of rules includes incrementing the population of the second queue when the second rate counter reaches the second predetermined value and decrementing the population of the second queue after each one of the second electrical stimulation pulses is delivered,

wherein the first electrical stimulation pulses are delivered if the stimulation generator is not delivering either second electrical stimulation pulses or second recharge pulses, and a first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel has expired, and the first queue is greater than the second queue, and

wherein the second electrical stimulation pulses are delivered if the stimulation generator is not delivering either first electrical stimulation pulses or first recharge pulses, and a second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel has expired, and the second queue is greater than the first queue.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein delivering the first electrical stimulation pulses at the first programmed rate on the first channel comprises:

preventing delivery of one of the second electrical stimulation pulses on the second channel; and

delivering two consecutive electrical stimulation pulses on the first channel based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues in order to maintain the first programmed rate.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a first rate blanking counter associated with the first channel;

providing a second rate blanking counter associated with the second channel;

determining whether the first rate blanking counter has expired prior to delivering the first electrical stimulation pulses; and

determining whether the second rate blanking counter has expired prior to delivering the second electrical stimulation pulses.

12. A device comprising:

a stimulation generator; and

a processor configured to cause the stimulation generator to;

deliver first electrical stimulation pulses at a first programmed rate on a first channel using the stimulation generator; and

deliver second electrical stimulation pulses at a second programmed rate on a second channel using the stimulation generator, wherein the second programmed rate is different than the first programmed rate, and wherein the second programmed rate is independent of the first programmed rate.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein each of the first electrical stimulation pulses is associated with a first recharge pulse having a first recharge interval, and wherein each of the second electrical stimulation pulses is associated with a second recharge pulse having a second recharge interval, the processor further configured to:

adjust at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval in order to maintain at least one of the first programmed rate and the second programmed rate.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein adjusting comprises at least one of increasing by a predetermined amount and decreasing by a predetermined amount.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the first recharge pulse has a first recharge amplitude, and wherein the second recharge pulse has a second recharge amplitude, the processor further configured to:

increase one of the first recharge amplitude and the second recharge amplitude upon decreasing a corresponding one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval, respectively.

16. The device of claim 15, the processor further configured to:

decrease one of the first recharge amplitude and the second recharge amplitude upon increasing a corresponding one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval, respectively.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor configured to adjust at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval is further configured to:

adjust the first recharge interval based on a first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel and a second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel; and

adjust the second recharge interval based on the first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel and the second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel.

18. The device of claim 13, further comprising:

a first queue associated with the first channel; and

a second queue associated with the second channel,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

populate the first and second queues according to a set of rules; and

adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the processor configured to adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues is further configured to:

sum a value of the population of the first queue and a value of the population of the second queue;

compare the sum to at least one predetermined value; and

determine whether to adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based on the comparison.

20. The device of claim 18, further comprising:

a first rate counter, the first rate counter associated with the first channel, wherein the first rate counter counts either upward or downward to a first predetermined value that corresponds to the first programmed rate;

a second rate counter, the second rate counter associated with the second channel, wherein the second rate counter counts either upward or downward to a second predetermined value that corresponds to the second programmed rate,

wherein the processor configured to populate the first queue according to a set of rules is further configured to increment a value of the population of the first queue when the first rate counter reaches zero and decrement the value of the population of the first queue after each one of the first electrical stimulation pulses is delivered,

wherein the processor configured to populate the second queue according to a set of rules is further configured to increment a value of the population of the second queue when the second rate counter reaches zero and decrement the value of the population of the second queue after each one of the second electrical stimulation pulses is delivered,

wherein the first electrical stimulation pulses are delivered if the stimulation generator is not delivering either second electrical stimulation pulses or second recharge pulses, and a first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel has expired, and the first queue is greater than the second queue, and

wherein the second electrical stimulation pulses are delivered if the stimulation generator is not delivering either first electrical stimulation pulses or first recharge pulses, and a second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel has expired, and the second queue is greater than the first queue.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the processor configured to cause the stimulation generator to deliver the first electrical stimulation pulses at the first programmed rate on the first channel is further configured to cause the stimulation generator to:

prevent delivery of one of the second electrical stimulation pulses on the second channel; and

deliver two consecutive electrical stimulation pulses on the first channel based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues in order to maintain the first programmed rate.

22. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

a first rate blanking counter associated with the first channel; and

a second rate blanking counter associated with the second channel,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine whether the first rate blanking counter has expired prior to delivering the first electrical stimulation pulses; and

determine whether the second rate blanking counter has expired prior to delivering the second electrical stimulation pulses.

23. A system comprising:

an array of implantable electrodes; and

an implantable medical device coupled to the array, the device comprising;

a stimulation generator; and

a processor configured to cause the stimulation generator to;

deliver first electrical stimulation pulses at a first programmed rate on

a first channel using the stimulation generator; and

deliver second electrical stimulation pulses at a second programmed rate on a second channel using the stimulation generator, wherein the second programmed rate is different than the first programmed rate, and wherein the second programmed rate is independent of the first programmed rate.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein each of the first electrical stimulation pulses is associated with a first recharge pulse having a first recharge interval, and wherein each of the second electrical stimulation pulses is associated with a second recharge pulse having a second recharge interval, the processor further configured to:

adjust at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval in order to maintain at least one of the first programmed rate and the second programmed rate.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor configured to adjust at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval is configured to at least one of increase by a predetermined amount and decrease by a predetermined amount.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the first recharge pulse has a first recharge amplitude, and wherein the second recharge pulse has a second recharge amplitude, the processor further configured to:

increase one of the first recharge amplitude and the second recharge amplitude upon decreasing a corresponding one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval, respectively.

27. The system of claim 26, the processor further configured to:

decrease one of the first recharge amplitude and the second recharge amplitude upon increasing a corresponding one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval, respectively.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor configured to adjust at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval is further configured to:

adjust the first recharge interval based on a first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel and a second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel; and

adjust the second recharge interval based on the first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel and the second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the medical device further comprises:

a first queue associated with the first channel; and

a second queue associated with the second channel,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

populate the first and second queues according to a set of rules; and

adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor configured to adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues is further configured to:

sum a value of the population of the first queue and a value of the population of the second queue;

compare the sum to at least one predetermined value; and

determine whether to adjust the at least one of the first recharge interval and the second recharge interval based on the comparison.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the medical device further comprises:

a first rate counter, the first rate counter associated with the first channel, wherein the first rate counter counts either upward or downward to a first predetermined value that corresponds to the first programmed rate;

a second rate counter, the second rate counter associated with the second channel, wherein the second rate counter counts either upward or downward to a second predetermined value that corresponds to the second programmed rate,

wherein the processor configured to populate the first queue according to a set of rules is further configured to increment a value of the population of the first queue when the first rate counter reaches zero and decrement the value of the population of the first queue after each one of the first electrical stimulation pulses is delivered,

wherein the processor configured to populate the second queue according to a set of rules is further configured to increment a value of the population of the second queue when the second rate counter reaches zero and decrement the value of the population of the second queue after each one of the second electrical stimulation pulses is delivered,

wherein the first electrical stimulation pulses are delivered if the stimulation generator is not delivering either second electrical stimulation pulses or second recharge pulses, and a first rate blanking interval associated with the first channel has expired, and the first queue is greater than the second queue, and

wherein the second electrical stimulation pulses are delivered if the stimulation generator is not delivering either first electrical stimulation pulses or first recharge pulses, and a second rate blanking interval associated with the second channel has expired, and the second queue is greater than the first queue.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the processor configured to cause the stimulation generator to deliver the first electrical stimulation pulses at the first programmed rate on the first channel is further configured to cause the stimulation generator to:

prevent delivery of one of the second electrical stimulation pulses on the second channel; and

deliver two consecutive electrical stimulation pulses on the first channel based at least partially on the population of the first and second queues in order to maintain the first programmed rate.

33. The system of claim 23, further comprising:

a first rate blanking counter associated with the first channel; and

a second rate blanking counter associated with the second channel,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

determine whether the first rate blanking counter has expired prior to delivering the first electrical stimulation pulses; and

determine whether the second rate blanking counter has expired prior to delivering the second electrical stimulation pulses.

34. A device for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, the device comprising:

means for delivering first electrical stimulation pulses at a first programmed rate on a first channel using a stimulation generator; and

means for delivering second electrical stimulation pulses at a second programmed rate on a second channel using the stimulation generator, wherein the second programmed rate is different than the first programmed rate, and wherein the second programmed rate is independent of the first programmed rate.