Architectures for Sharing of Current Sources in an Implantable Medical Device

• US 20160213932A1
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Dongchul
• Granted Patent: US 10,092,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

A group select matrix is added to an implantable stimulator device to allow current sources to be dedicated to particular groups of electrodes at a given time. The group select matrix can time multiplex the current sources to the different groups of electrodes to allow therapy pulses to be delivered at the various groups of electrodes in an interleaved fashion. Each of the groups of electrodes may be confined to a particular electrode array implantable at a particular non-overlapping location in a patient'"'"'s body. A switch matrix can be used in conjunction with the group select matrix to provide further flexibility to couple the current sources to any of the electrodes.

Claims

1. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:

a plurality X of groups each comprising a plurality of electrodes;

a plurality of current sources; and

a group selection matrix receiving X group control signals, each of the X group control signals for simultaneously coupling the plurality of current sources to one of the X groups of the plurality of electrodes.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein there are a plurality N of electrodes in each of the X groups, and N current sources.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arrays each comprising one of the X groups of electrodes, wherein each array is implantable at a different location in a patient.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an array, wherein all of the X groups of electrodes are located on the array.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of arrays, and wherein at least one of the X groups of electrodes is located on a plurality of the arrays.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the group selection matrix simultaneously couples the plurality of current sources to only one of the X groups at a given time.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the group selection matrix simultaneously couples the plurality of current sources to a first of the X groups at a first time and simultaneously couples the plurality of current sources to a second of the X groups at a second time.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes in one of the X groups is not in any other of the X groups.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the X group control signals are asserted at X different times to simultaneously couple the plurality of current sources to each of the X groups at the X different times.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller receives at least one stimulation program and is configured to enable the X group control signals in accordance with the at least one stimulation program.

11. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:

a case;

a plurality of arrays coupled to the case, wherein each array comprises a group of a plurality of N electrodes configured for implantation at a location in a patient;

a plurality of N current sources inside the case; and

a group selection matrix inside the case controllable by a plurality of group control signals, each group control signal comprising a single signal specific to one of the groups for coupling each of the N current sources to one of the N electrodes in that group.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein each array couples to the case at a connector.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the electrodes are linearly arranged on each array.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the group selection matrix couples each of the N current sources to one of the N electrodes in only one group at a given time.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising a microcontroller inside the case, wherein there are X groups, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to assert the plurality of group control signals to couple the plurality of N current sources to one of the N electrodes in each of the X groups at X different times.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein each of the N electrodes in a group appear only in that group.