SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING OR AFFECTING NEURAL STIMULATION EFFICIENCY AND/OR EFFICACY
First Claim
1. A method adjusting electrical stimulation based upon drug therapy comprising:
- selecting a set of electrical stimulation parameters such that the electrical stimulation accommodates a drug half-life;
evaluating a status of the drug half-life and if the drug half-life is not at an acceptable level, then adjust the electrical stimulation to adequately control a patient'"'"'s symptoms.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and/or method may apply electromagnetic stimulation to a patient'"'"'s nervous system over a first time domain according to a first set of stimulation parameters, and over a second time domain according to a second set of stimulation parameters. The first and second time domains may be sequential, simultaneous, or nested. Stimulation parameters may vary in accordance with one or more types of duty cycle, amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, spatiotemporal, and/or polarity variations. Stimulation may be applied at subthreshold, threshold, and/or suprathreshold levels in one or more periodic, aperiodic (e.g., chaotic), and/or pseudo-random manners. In some embodiments stimulation may comprise a burst pattern having an interburst frequency corresponding to an intrinsic brainwave frequency, and regular and/or varying intraburst stimulation parameters. Stimulation signals providing reduced power consumption with at least adequate symptomatic relief may be applied prior to moderate or significant power source depletion.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method adjusting electrical stimulation based upon drug therapy comprising:
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selecting a set of electrical stimulation parameters such that the electrical stimulation accommodates a drug half-life; evaluating a status of the drug half-life and if the drug half-life is not at an acceptable level, then adjust the electrical stimulation to adequately control a patient'"'"'s symptoms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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- 5. The method of claim 5 wherein the evaluating step is performed by a clock or timer.
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8. An apparatus for treating a neural condition of a patient, comprising:
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an implantable stimulation device having at least one implantable stimulator configured to be positioned in signal communication with neural tissue of a patient'"'"'s nervous system, the stimulation device configured to be implanted in the patient; an implantable signal generator; a signal communication link operatively coupled between the stimulation device and the signal generator; and a controller operatively coupled to the signal generator, the controller being configured to provide instructions to the signal generator to direct an application of electrical stimulation to the patient in a manner to accommodate for drug-half life. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for treating a neural condition of a patient, comprising:
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an implantable stimulation device having at least one implantable stimulator configured to be positioned in signal communication with neural tissue of the patient'"'"'s nervous system, the stimulation device configured to be implanted in the patient; an implantable signal generator; a signal communication link operatively coupled between the stimulation device and the signal generator; and a controller operatively coupled to the signal generator, the controller being configured to provide instructions to the signal generator to direct an application of electrical stimulation to the patient in a manner such that the stimulation has a burst frequency and an intra-burst frequency greater than the burst frequency. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification