SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING ASYNCHRONOUS NEURAL RESPONSES TO TREAT PAIN AND/OR OTHER PATIENT CONDITIONS
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Abstract
Systems and methods for producing asynchronous neural responses to treat pain and/or other patient conditions are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes selecting a target stimulation frequency that is above a threshold frequency, with the threshold frequency corresponding to a refractory period for neurons of a target sensory neural population. The method can further include producing a patient sensation of paresthesia by directing an electrical signal to multiple sensory neurons of the target sensory neural population at the stimulation frequency, with individual neurons of the sensory neural population completing corresponding individual refractory periods at different times, resulting in an asynchronous sensory neuron response to the electrical signal.
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Citations
105 Claims
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1-85. -85. (canceled)
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86. A system for producing an asynchronous neural response, comprising:
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a pulse generator having a machine-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause the pulse generator to transmit a first electrical stimulation signal having a first frequency, and a second electrical stimulation signal having a second frequency, wherein— the first frequency is less than one half of a target stimulation frequency sufficient to produce the asynchronous neural response, the second frequency is less than one half of the target stimulation frequency, and the instructions, when executed, cause the pulse generator to transmit a plurality of paired pulses that produce the asynchronous neural response, wherein individual paired pulses comprise a first pulse of the first electrical stimulation signal separated by a phase shift from a second pulse of the second electrical stimulation signal; and a signal delivery element couplable to the pulse generator to deliver the first electrical stimulation signal and the second electrical stimulation signal to a target neural population. - View Dependent Claims (87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A method for configuring a stimulation device to produce an asynchronous neural response, the method comprising:
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determining a target stimulation frequency based on a threshold frequency corresponding to a refractory period for neurons of a target sensory neural population, and wherein the target stimulation frequency is greater than the threshold frequency; and programming the stimulation device to deliver a first electrical stimulation signal having a plurality of first pulses at a first frequency, and a second electrical stimulation signal having a plurality of second pulses at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are less than one half of the target stimulation frequency, and wherein the stimulation device is programmed to deliver the first pulses at an offset from the second pulses to produce the asynchronous neural response. - View Dependent Claims (94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100)
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101. A system for initiating and maintaining an asynchronous neural response, the system comprising:
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an implantable pulse generator having a machine-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed, cause the pulse generator to; transmit an initial electrical stimulation signal to initiate the asynchronous neural response in a target neural population, wherein the initial electrical stimulation signal is transmitted at a target stimulation frequency, and wherein the target stimulation frequency is greater than a threshold frequency for the target neural population; subsequent to transmitting the initial electrical stimulation signal, transmit a first electrical stimulation signal having a first frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than one half of the target stimulation frequency; and concurrent with transmitting the first electrical stimulation signal, transmit a second electrical stimulation signal having a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is less than one half of the target stimulation frequency, wherein the first electrical stimulation signal and the second electrical stimulation signal are transmitted with an offset, wherein the offset is less than a refractory period for neurons of the target neural population, and wherein the offset is selected to maintain the asynchronous neural response; and an implantable lead having a plurality of electrodes, wherein the lead is positionable to deliver the initial electrical stimulation signal, the first electrical stimulation signal, and the second electrical stimulation signal to the target neural population. - View Dependent Claims (102, 103, 104, 105)
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Specification