IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATORS HAVING REDUCED POCKET STIMULATION
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Abstract
Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2. A method, comprising:
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delivering monopolar neurostimulation to targeted neural tissue using a neurostimulator that includes an electrically conductive outer case implanted within a tissue pocket and a lead extending away from the outer case toward the targeted neural tissue, the outer case being configured to provide a hermetically sealed compartment for internal electronics that are operably connected to the outer case and the lead to transmit electrical stimulation pulses through tissue between the lead and the outer case, wherein the monopolar neurostimulation includes a plurality of stimulation pulses having an amplitude and a pulse width; detecting tissue pocket stimulation, wherein the tissue pocket stimulation occurs with high current density at the outer case which is attributable at least in part to geometry of the outer case; responding to detection of tissue pocket stimulation including reducing the pulse width of stimulation pulses in response to the detection of tissue pocket stimulation and delivering the monopolar neurostimulation using the electrical pulses with the reduced pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating a neurostimulator that includes an electrically conductive outer case implanted within a tissue pocket and a lead extending away from the outer case toward targeted neural tissue, the method comprising:
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delivering monopolar neurostimulation to the targeted neural tissue including transmitting electrical stimulation pulses have an amplitude and a pulse width through tissue between the lead and the outer case; detecting tissue pocket stimulation, wherein the tissue pocket stimulation occurs with high current density at the outer case which is attributable at least in part to geometry of the outer case; responding to detection of tissue pocket stimulation including reducing the pulse width of stimulation pulses in response to the detection of tissue pocket stimulation and delivering the monopolar neurostimulation using the electrical pulses with the reduced pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a neurostimulator that includes an electrically conductive outer case implanted within a tissue pocket and a lead extending away from the outer case toward targeted neural tissue, the method comprising:
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delivering monopolar neurostimulation to the targeted neural tissue including transmitting electrical stimulation pulses have an amplitude and a pulse width through tissue between the lead and the outer case, wherein the outer case has an area equal to or less than 200 mm2; detecting tissue pocket stimulation, wherein the tissue pocket stimulation occurs with high current density at the outer case which is attributable at least in part to geometry of the outer case including the area of the outer case; responding to detection of tissue pocket stimulation including reducing the pulse width of stimulation pulses to a pulse width within the range of 10-100 μ
s in response to the detection of tissue pocket stimulation and delivering the monopolar neurostimulation using the electrical pulses with the reduced pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification