INTRA-BURST PULSE VARIATION FOR STIMULATION THERAPY

• US 20120197336A1
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Su, Xin
• Granted Patent: US 9,168,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36107 Sexual dysfunction stimulating genital organs A61N1/36007
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36178 Burst or pulse train parameters

Abstract

In general, the disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and techniques for delivering electrical stimulation to a patient with varying pulse frequencies within each burst of pulses. The pulse frequency variation within each burst of pulses may be between approximately 20 Hz and 40 Hz. In some examples, the pulse frequency may be increased, decreased, or polynomially varied within each burst. In other examples, the frequency of intrinsic nerve impulses may be detected and used to deliver pulses with the detected frequency or an inverse of the detected frequency. Electrical stimulation therapy with intra-burst pulse frequency variation may alleviate bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, pain or other disorders.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, wherein the electrical stimulation therapy comprises a plurality of bursts and a plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts; and

varying, by a control module, a pulse frequency of the plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts, wherein the pulse frequency is varied between approximately 20 Hz and 40 Hz.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein varying the pulse frequency comprises one of increasing the pulse frequency within each of the plurality of bursts or decreasing the pulse frequency within each of the plurality of bursts.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein varying the pulse frequency comprises at least one of linearly varying the pulse frequency, exponentially varying the pulse frequency, and polynomially varying the pulse frequency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein varying the pulse frequency comprises randomly varying the pulse frequency within each of the plurality of bursts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a burst frequency of the plurality of bursts is between approximately 1 Hz and 10 Hz.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising varying at least one of a current amplitude or a voltage amplitude of the plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a physiological state of the patient, wherein varying the pulse frequency comprises one of increasing the pulse frequency, decreasing the pulse frequency, or randomly changing the pulse frequency based on the detection.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting a frequency variation of intrinsic nerve impulses, wherein varying the pulse frequency of the plurality of pulses comprises varying the pulse frequency according to one of the detected frequency variation or an inverse of the detected frequency variation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation therapy is configured to treat at least one of bladder dysfunction or colorectal dysfunction.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation therapy is configured to treat at least one of bladder dysfunction or colorectal dysfunction.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module and therapy delivery module are both housed within an implantable medical device.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the therapy delivery module is housed within an implantable medical device, and wherein the control module is housed within an external programmer.

10. A system comprising:

a therapy delivery module configured to generate and deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, wherein the electrical stimulation therapy comprises a plurality of bursts and a plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts; and

a control module configured to vary a pulse frequency of the plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts, wherein the pulse frequency is varied between approximately 20 Hz and 40 Hz.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to increase the pulse frequency within each of the plurality of bursts or decrease the pulse frequency within each of the plurality of bursts.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control module is configured to at least one of linearly vary the pulse frequency, exponentially vary the pulse frequency, and polynomially vary the pulse frequency.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to randomly vary the pulse frequency within each of the plurality of bursts.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein a burst frequency of the plurality of bursts is between approximately 1 Hz and 10 Hz.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the control module is configured to vary at least one of a current amplitude or a voltage amplitude of the plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a physiological state of the patient, wherein the control module is configured to one of increase the pulse frequency, decrease the pulse frequency, or randomly vary the pulse frequency based on the detection.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising an impulse sensing module configured to detect a frequency variation of intrinsic nerve impulses, wherein the control module is configured to vary the pulse frequency according to one of the detected frequency variation or an inverse of the detected frequency variation.

21. A system comprising:

means for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, wherein the electrical stimulation therapy comprises a plurality of bursts and a plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts; and

means for varying a pulse frequency of the plurality of pulses within each of the plurality of bursts, wherein the pulse frequency is varied between approximately 20 Hz and 40 Hz.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for varying the pulse frequency at least one of linearly varies the pulse frequency, exponentially varies the pulse frequency, and polynomially varies the pulse frequency.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for detecting a physiological state of the patient, wherein the means for varying the pulse frequency one of increases the pulse frequency, decreases the pulse frequency, or randomly varies the pulse frequency based on the detection.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for detecting a frequency variation of intrinsic nerve impulses, wherein the means for varying the pulse frequency varies the pulse frequency according to one of the detected frequency variation or an inverse of the detected frequency variation.