IMPLANTABLE MICROSTIMULATORS AND METHODS FOR UNIDIRECTIONAL PROPAGATION OF ACTION POTENTIALS

• US 20140039578A1
• Filed: 09/26/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Whitehurst, Todd K., Carbunaru, Rafael, Haller, Matthew I., He, Tom Xiaohai, Bradley, Kerry, Kuzma, Janusz A., McGivem, James P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,283,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient

Abstract

Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs). The methods and configurations described may, for instance, arrest action potentials traveling in one direction, arrest action potentials of small diameters nerve fibers, arrest action potentials of large diameter nerve fibers. These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and/or less targeted stimulation.

Claims

1. An implantable electrical stimulation device comprising:

a device body;

at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes disposed on a portion of the device body for electrical stimulation of tissue, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the device body; and

insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other.

2. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the partitioned electrodes are each disposed in short arcs around the circumference of the device body.

3. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least two of the sets of independent partitioned electrodes.

4. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation device is a microstimulator and further comprises circuitry configured and arranged for steering an electric field around or longitudinally along the device body using the partitioned electrodes.

5. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the implantable stimulation device comprises a lead forming at least a portion of the device body, wherein at least one of the at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes is disposed on the lead.

6. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes comprises at least three of the sets of independent partitioned electrodes, each set comprising four partitioned electrodes positioned around a circumference of the device body.

7. The implantable stimulation device of claim 6, wherein the implantable stimulation device comprises a lead forming at least a portion of the device body, wherein at least one of the at least three sets of independent partitioned electrodes is disposed on the lead.

8. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the partitioned electrodes are individually programmable.

11. A method of stimulating tissue comprising:

providing the implantable stimulation device of claim 1; and

programming stimulation parameters of the implantable stimulation device to deliver stimulus current for steering the electric field around or longitudinally along the device body using a plurality of the partitioned electrodes.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulation device is a microstimulator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein programming stimulation parameters includes activating at least one of the partitioned electrodes, programming each activated partitioned electrode as a cathode, anode or an open circuit, and controlling current flowing from each partitioned electrode that is activated.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the microstimulator comprises at least three sets of the partitioned electrodes, each set comprising four partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the body of the microstimulator.

9. An electrical stimulation system comprising:

a lead;

at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes disposed on a portion of the lead for electrical stimulation of tissue, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead;

insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other; and

a microstimulator attached to the lead, the microstimulator containing circuitry to deliver current stimulus through the partitioned electrodes.

10. A method of stimulating tissue comprising:

providing the implantable stimulation system of claim 9; and

programming stimulation parameters of the implantable stimulation system to deliver stimulus current for steering the electric field around or longitudinally along the lead using a plurality of the partitioned electrodes.

15. A method of stimulating tissue comprising:

providing an implantable stimulation device comprising a lead having at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes disposed on the lead, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the device body; and

programming stimulation parameters of the implantable stimulation device to activate different ones of the partitioned electrodes and program each activated partitioned electrode as a cathode, anode or an open circuit for controlling current flowing from each partitioned electrode that is activated, thereby steering an electric field generated by the activated partitioned electrodes.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least some of the cathodes are electrically connected.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the partitioned electrodes are activated as cathodes, the method further comprising driving at least some of the cathodes independently.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of the partitioned electrodes are activated as anodes, the method further comprising driving at least some of the anodes independently.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes comprises four partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the implantable stimulation device further comprises a microstimulator attached to the lead, the microstimulator containing circuitry to deliver independently programmable current stimulus through at least one of the partitioned electrodes.