Implantable device with output circuitry for simultaneous stimulation at multiple sites
First Claim
1. An implantable stimulator system, said system having a device for generating stimulus pulses and leads for delivering stimulus pulses to at least two patient sites, said device having at least two generator circuits for generating concurrent stimulus pulses and a battery for powering said circuits, each of said circuits comprising IC components, said battery having positive and negative output terminals, and switching means operative during concurrent delivery of pulses by said generator circuits for connecting a predetermined one of said battery terminals to a selected one of said generator circuits and disconnecting the other of said generator circuits from said predetermined battery terminal so that said other generator circuit is floating with respect to said battery, whereby all said IC components are held at a selected bias during said concurrent delivery of pulses and there is no direct circuit connection between said generator circuits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is provided an implantable device with two or more output stages for delivering concurrent output pulses to two or more sites within a patient'"'"'s body. Each output circuit has a common architecture, including a switchable generator which has a plurality of storage capacitors and switches for arranging the capacitors either to be charged by the battery, or to discharge a stimulus pulse. A programmable regulator is provided for further regulation of the output voltage; and a multiplexer connects the output to the desired electrodes placed at the patient site. For concurrent dual pulse-dual site stimulation, a pair of active rectifier switches are connected between the negative terminal of each output stage and the battery positive terminal, whereby at the time of concurrent pulse delivery, the output stage having the greatest negative voltage relative to battery plus has its negative terminal connected to the battery plus terminal, while the other output stage is disconnected from the battery so that it floats. This arrangement reduces crosstalk current while ensuring continued positive biasing of the semi-conductor switches in each output stage.
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Citations
17 Claims
- 1. An implantable stimulator system, said system having a device for generating stimulus pulses and leads for delivering stimulus pulses to at least two patient sites, said device having at least two generator circuits for generating concurrent stimulus pulses and a battery for powering said circuits, each of said circuits comprising IC components, said battery having positive and negative output terminals, and switching means operative during concurrent delivery of pulses by said generator circuits for connecting a predetermined one of said battery terminals to a selected one of said generator circuits and disconnecting the other of said generator circuits from said predetermined battery terminal so that said other generator circuit is floating with respect to said battery, whereby all said IC components are held at a selected bias during said concurrent delivery of pulses and there is no direct circuit connection between said generator circuits.
- 10. An implantable device for delivering concurrent pulses to a pair of sites in a human body, comprising first and second matched generator circuits, each of said circuits having a plurality of capacitors and a switching network for switchably connecting said capacitors in respective charging and pulse generating configurations, control means for concurrently switching said capacitors into pulse generating configurations, a battery for powering said networks, said battery having positive and negative output terminals, said networks having semiconductor elements which are normally biased positive with respect to the negative terminal of said battery, and switching means operative when said generator circuits are in pulse generating configurations for connecting one of said generator circuits only to said battery positive terminal and for disconnecting the other of said generator circuits from said battery.
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16. An implantable stimulator system for concurrently generating and delivering stimulus pulses to at least two sites in a patient, the system having lead means for delivering concurrent pulses to said two sites, and a device for generating said concurrent pulses, said device comprising:
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first and second generator circuits, each having positive and negative output terminals, said output terminals of each generator circuit being connected to said lead means so as to provide stimulus pulses to a respective one of said sites; timing means for controlling said first and second generator circuits to generate pulses concurrently; a battery for powering said first and second generator circuits, having positive and negative battery terminals; and comparing means operative during delivery of said concurrent pulses for comparing the voltage at a predetermined one of said first generator circuit output terminals with the voltage at a predetermined one said second generator circuit output terminals, and switching means operative as a function of said comparing and during said concurrent pulse delivery for connecting one of said predetermined output circuit terminals to a predetermined one of said battery terminals and for disconnecting the other said predetermined output circuit terminals from said predetermined one battery terminal. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification