Architectures for Sharing of Current Sources in an Implantable Medical Device

• US 20130006315A1
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Dongchul
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A group select matrix is added to an implantable stimulator device to allow current sources to be dedicated to particular groups of electrodes at a given time. The group select matrix can time multiplex the current sources to the different groups of electrodes to allow therapy pulses to be delivered at the various groups of electrodes in an interleaved fashion. Each of the groups of electrodes may be confined to a particular electrode array implantable at a particular non-overlapping location in a patient'"'"'s body. A switch matrix can be used in conjunction with the group select matrix to provide further flexibility to couple the current sources to any of the electrodes.

Claims

1. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:

a case;

a plurality of arrays coupled to the case, wherein each array comprises a group of a plurality of electrodes configured for implantation at a location in a patient;

a plurality of current sources inside the case; and

a group selection matrix inside the case controllable by at least one group control signal for coupling the plurality of current sources to a selected group of the plurality of electrodes.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein there are N electrodes in each group, and N current sources.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each array couples to the case at a connector.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the electrodes are linearly arranged on each array.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the group selection matrix couples the plurality of current sources to only the selected group at a given time.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the group selection matrix couples the plurality of current sources to the selected group and to another group at a given time.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller inside the case.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the microcontroller is configured to assert the at least one group control signal to couple the plurality of current sources to a first group at a first time, and to couple the plurality of current sources to a second group at a second time.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein there are X groups, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to assert the at least one group control signal to couple the plurality of current sources to each of the X groups at X different times.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the microcontroller receives at least one stimulation program and is configured to enable the at least one group control signal in accordance with the at least one stimulation program.

11. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:

a plurality of groups each comprising a plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of current sources;

a switch matrix for coupling each of the current sources to any of a plurality of switch matrix outputs; and

a group selection matrix controllable by at least one group control signal for coupling the plurality of switch matrix outputs to a selected group of the plurality of electrodes.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein there are N electrodes in each group, and N current sources.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein there are N electrodes in each group, and P current sources.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein P is less than N.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of arrays each comprising one of the groups of electrodes, wherein each array is implantable at a different location in a patient.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising an array, wherein all of the groups of electrodes are located on the array.

17. The device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of arrays, and wherein at least one group of electrodes is located on a plurality of the arrays.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein the group selection matrix couples the plurality of current sources to only the selected group at a given time.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the group selection matrix couples the plurality of current sources to the selected group and to another group at a given time.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein the switch matrix couples each of the current sources to all of the plurality of switch matrix outputs.

21. The device of claim 11, further comprising a microcontroller.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein there are X groups, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to assert the at least one group control signal to couple the plurality of current sources to each of the X groups at X different times.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein there are X groups, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to assert the at least one group control signal to couple the plurality of current sources to each of the X groups at X different times.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the microcontroller receives at least one stimulation program and is configured to enable the at least one group control signal and control signals for the switch matrix in accordance with the at least one stimulation program.