Neural stimulation techniques with feedback
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for automatically adjusting action potentials generated in electrically excitable tissue of a living organism by electrical stimulation of said tissue, said apparatus comprising:
- a lead defining a longitudinal axis;
a stimulation driver for generating in response to a control signal a stimulation pulse having a pulse period and an amplitude;
stimulation electrode means for coupling said stimulation pulse to said tissue, wherein at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude determines said action potentials generated in said tissue, wherein said stimulation electrode means comprises a first portion of said lead comprising a paddle carrying a plurality of stimulation electrodes;
recording electrode means disposed on said lead and displaced from said stimulation electrode means by a predetermined distance for receiving said action potentials transmitted by said tissue, said lead defining said longitudinal axis for carrying said stimulation electrode means and said recording electrode means;
an amplifier for generating a processing signal responsive to said action potentials received by said recording electrode means; and
a controller for generating said control signal in response to said processing signal, wherein said stimulation driver adjusts at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude in response to said control signal to maintain said action potentials generated in said tissue at substantially a predetermined action potential level that results in reduced pain experienced by said living organism uniformly with time.
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Abstract
Feedback is used to control a pulse generator that stimulates electrically excitable tissue. An implanted lead includes stimulation electrode(s) that are spaced from recording electrode(s). The compound action potential received by the recording electrode(s) is processed and integrated over a time window in order to control the amplitude of the pulse generator to maintain more uniform effect from the stimulation.
483 Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for automatically adjusting action potentials generated in electrically excitable tissue of a living organism by electrical stimulation of said tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a lead defining a longitudinal axis; a stimulation driver for generating in response to a control signal a stimulation pulse having a pulse period and an amplitude; stimulation electrode means for coupling said stimulation pulse to said tissue, wherein at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude determines said action potentials generated in said tissue, wherein said stimulation electrode means comprises a first portion of said lead comprising a paddle carrying a plurality of stimulation electrodes; recording electrode means disposed on said lead and displaced from said stimulation electrode means by a predetermined distance for receiving said action potentials transmitted by said tissue, said lead defining said longitudinal axis for carrying said stimulation electrode means and said recording electrode means; an amplifier for generating a processing signal responsive to said action potentials received by said recording electrode means; and a controller for generating said control signal in response to said processing signal, wherein said stimulation driver adjusts at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude in response to said control signal to maintain said action potentials generated in said tissue at substantially a predetermined action potential level that results in reduced pain experienced by said living organism uniformly with time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. Apparatus for automatically adjusting action potentials generated in electrically excitable tissue of a living organism by electrical stimulation of said tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a stimulation driver for generating in response to a control signal a stimulation pulse having a pulse period and an amplitude; at least one stimulation electrode for coupling said stimulation pulse to said tissue, wherein at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude determines said action potentials generated in said tissue; a recording electrode disposed from said at least one stimulation electrode by a predetermined distance for measuring said action potentials transmitted by said tissue; and means for reducing pain experienced by said living organism uniformly with time by generating a control signal in response to said action potentials measured by said recording electrode, wherein said control signal is used in feedback by said means for reducing pain to control said stimulation driver to adjust at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude in response to said control signal.
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6. Apparatus for automatically adjusting action potentials generated in electrically excitable tissue of a living organism by electrical stimulation of said tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a stimulation driver for generating in response to a control signal a stimulation pulse having a pulse period and an amplitude; at least one stimulation electrode for coupling said stimulation pulse to said tissue, wherein at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude determines said action potentials generated in said tissue; a recording electrode disposed from said at least one stimulation electrode by a predetermined distance for measuring said action potentials transmitted by said tissue; a controller for generating a control signal in response to said action potentials measured by said recording electrode, wherein said stimulation driver adjusts at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude in response to said control signal to maintain said action potentials generated in said tissue at substantially a predetermined action potential level that results in reduced pain experienced by said living organism uniformly with time; and a lead disposed along said tissue, wherein said at least one stimulation electrode and said recording electrode are arranged linearly on said lead along said tissue.
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7. Apparatus for automatically adjusting action potentials generated in electrically excitable tissue of a living organism by electrical stimulation of said tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a lead defining a longitudinal axis; a stimulation driver for generating in response to a control signal a stimulation pulse having a pulse period and an amplitude; a stimulation electrode for coupling said stimulation pulse to said tissue, wherein at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude determines said action potentials generated in said tissue, wherein said stimulation electrode is disposed on a first portion of said lead comprising a paddle; a recording electrode disposed on said lead and displaced from said stimulation electrode by a predetermined distance for receiving said action potentials transmitted by said tissue, said lead defining said longitudinal axis for carrying said stimulation electrode and said recording electrode; an amplifier for generating a processing signal responsive to said action potentials received by said recording electrode; and a controller for generating said control signal in response to said processing signal, wherein said stimulation driver adjusts at least one of said pulse period and said amplitude in response to said control signal to maintain said action potentials generated in said tissue at substantially a predetermined action potential level that results in reduced pain experienced by said living organism uniformly with time.
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8. Apparatus for automatically adjusting action potentials generated in electrically excitable tissue of a living organism by electrical stimulation of said tissue, said apparatus comprising:
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a stimulation driver for generating in response to a control signal a stimulation pulse having a pulse period, an amplitude, and a pulse width; at least one stimulation electrode for coupling said stimulation pulse to said tissue, wherein at least one of said pulse period, said amplitude, and said pulse width determines said action potentials generated in said tissue; a recording electrode disposed from said at least one stimulation electrode by a predetermined distance for measuring said action potentials transmitted by said tissue to generate a measured action potential signal; and a microcontroller having executable instructions for performing the steps of; receiving said measured action potential signal from said recording electrode; determining a control signal in response to said measured action potential signal; and controlling said stimulation driver with said control signal that is used to adjust at least one of said pulse period, said amplitude, and said pulse width to maintain said action potentials generated in said tissue at substantially a predetermined action potential level. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification