SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING FAULTS AND/OR ADJUSTING ELECTRICAL THERAPY BASED ON IMPEDANCE CHANGES
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
- applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a patient via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient;
automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; and
detecting a change in impedance in the electrical circuit that indicates a fault.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods for detecting impedance changes and for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes applying a therapeutic, paresthesialess electrical signal to a patient via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient. The method can include monitoring on a periodic basis an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device. The method can further include detecting a change in the impedance that indicates a fault and providing an indication that the fault exists.
99 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a patient via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient; automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; and detecting a change in impedance in the electrical circuit that indicates a fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a patient via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, wherein the therapeutic electrical signal has a frequency in the range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz; automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; detecting a change in impedance in the electrical circuit that indicates a fault; automatically correcting the fault before the patient senses a change in therapy resulting from the fault; and automatically providing a notification of the fault.
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17. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a signal generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector carried by the implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed; automatically monitor, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of the electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; and receives an indication from the impedance detector corresponding to a fault. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28)
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27. The system of claim wherein 25, wherein the processor is configured to direct a signal providing notification of the fault to a location external to the patient.
Specification