ARBITRARY WAVEFORM GENERATOR & NEURAL STIMULATION APPLICATION WITH SCALABLE WAVEFORM FEATURE AND CHARGE BALANCING

• US 20130204319A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Trier, Stephen C., Weisgarber, Jeffrey A., Polefko, Richard J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,656,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy, including the option of using such arbitrary waveforms for charge balancing purposes.

Claims

1. :

A medical waveform generator, comprising;

a waveform generator configured to generate an output waveform comprised of any of a plurality of differently shaped waveforms;

a time scaling circuit configured to time scale the generator output waveform;

a current divider configured to scale the amplitude of the time scaled generator output waveform for outputting an amplitude scaled output waveform; and

an amplifier configured to amplify the amplitude scaled output waveform for outputting a stimulation waveform.

2. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured for controlling the waveform generator, the time scaling circuit, the current divider, and the amplifier for generating the stimulation waveform having the desired shape(s), amplitude, and time scale.

3. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 1, further comprising;

a plurality of electrode outputs; and

a plurality of amplifiers configured to amplify an output of the current divider, each one of said amplifiers being configured to output a stimulation waveform corresponding to a different one of said electrode outputs.

4. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 3, further comprising a passive discharge circuit connected to each one of the electrode outputs.

5. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 1, wherein said stimulation waveform is comprised of a plurality of active pulses, wherein at least one of said plurality of active pulses is for canceling a charge generated by one or more others of said plurality of pulses.

6. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 1, wherein said waveform generator includes at least one digital to analog converter configured for converting a digital representation of the output waveform into the output waveform that is analog.

7. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 1, wherein said waveform generator includes at least one square wave generator configured to generate one or more of the differently shaped waveforms shaped as square waves, and wherein said waveform generator also includes a plurality of memories, each one of said memories configured to store a waveform template for generating a different one of the differently shaped waveforms not shaped as square waves.

9. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 1, wherein said waveform generator, said time scaling circuit, and said current divider are comprised in an ASIC.

8. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 8, wherein said waveform generator also includes at least one shape logic generator configured to generate one or more of the differently shaped waveforms shaped according to a mathematical function.

10. :

A medical waveform generator comprising;

a plurality of electrode outputs;

a waveform generator configured to generate an output waveform comprised of any of a plurality of differently shaped waveforms;

a time scaling circuit configured to input a signal into the waveform generator for time scaling the generator output waveform;

a current divider configured to scale the amplitude of the generator output;

a plurality of amplifiers, each one of the amplifiers being configured to amplify an output of the current divider for outputting a stimulation waveform corresponding to a different one of the electrode outputs; and

a controller configured to control the waveform generator, the time scaling circuit, the current divider, and the amplifiers to generate the stimulation waveform having the desired shape(s), amplitude, and time scale.

11. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 10, further comprising a passive discharge circuit connected to each one of the electrode outputs.

12. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 10, wherein said stimulation waveform is comprised of a plurality of active pulses, wherein at least one of said plurality of active pulses is for canceling a charge generated by one or more others of said plurality of pulses.

13. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 10, wherein said waveform generator includes at least one digital to analog converter configured for converting a digital representation of the output waveform into the output waveform that is analog.

14. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 10, wherein said waveform generator includes at least one square wave generator configured to generate one or more of the differently shaped waveforms shaped as square waves, and wherein said waveform generator also includes a plurality of memories, each one of said memories configured to store a waveform template for generating a different one of the differently shaped waveforms not shaped as square waves.

15. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 14, wherein said waveform generator also includes at least one shape logic generator configured to generate one or more of the differently shaped waveforms shaped according to a mathematical function.

16. :

A medical waveform generator comprising;

a waveform generator configured to generate an output waveform comprised of any of a plurality of differently shaped waveforms, said waveform generator including;

at least one square wave generator configured to generate one or more of the differently shaped waveforms shaped as square waves, and

a plurality of memories, each one of said memories configured to store a waveform template for generating a different one of the differently shaped waveforms not shaped as square waves;

and

an amplitude scaling circuit configured to scale the amplitude of the generator output waveform for outputting a stimulation waveform.

17. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 16, further comprising a time scaling circuit configured to cause the waveform generator to scale the generator output waveform in time.

18. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 16, wherein said stimulation waveform includes a plurality of active pulses, wherein at least one of said plurality of active pulses is for canceling a charge generated by one or more others of said plurality of pulses.

19. :

A medical waveform generator comprising;

an electrode output;

a waveform generator configured to generate an output waveform comprised of any of a plurality of differently shaped waveforms, said waveform generator including;

at least one square wave generator configured to generate one or more of the differently shaped waveforms shaped as square waves, and

a plurality of memories, each one of said memories configured to store a waveform template for use in generating a different one of the differently shaped waveforms not shaped as square waves;

an amplitude scaling circuit configured to scale the amplitude of the generator output waveform for outputting a charge recovery waveform; and

a controller configured to monitor an amount of electrical charge imposed on tissue of a patient undergoing stimulation, wherein said controller controls said waveform generator and said amplitude scaling circuit to generate the charge recovery waveform to substantially cancel the electrical charge on the tissue.

20. :

The medical waveform generator of claim 19, further comprising a time scaling circuit controlled by said controller for causing the waveform generator to scale the generator output waveform in time.

21. :

A medical waveform generator comprising;

a plurality of electrode outputs each configured to provide one of a plurality of recovery waveforms to a corresponding stimulation region of a patient;

a waveform generator configured to generate an output waveform comprised of any of a plurality of differently shaped waveforms;

a time scaling circuit configured to input a signal into the waveform generator for time scaling the generator output waveform;

a current divider configured to scale the amplitude of the generator output;

a plurality of amplifiers, each one of the amplifiers being configured to amplify an output of the current divider for outputting a corresponding one of the recovery waveforms; and

a controller configured to control the waveform generator, the time scaling circuit, the current divider, and the amplifiers to generate each one of the recovery waveforms having desired shapes, amplitudes, and time scales sufficient to substantially cancel an electrical charge provided at the corresponding stimulation region of the patient.