Switched-matrix output for multi-channel implantable stimulator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stimulation output switching system for a multi-channel stimulator, said system comprising:
- N number of DACs (11);
M number of electrode contacts (31); and
N×
M number of switches (21);
wherein each DAC (11) of the N number of DACs is coupled uniquely to one group (50) of M number of switches (21), each switch within each group (50) of M switches, in turn, is coupled to each one of M electrode contacts (31); and
wherein M and N are whole numbers and M is greater than N.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a switched-matrix output for a multi-channel stimulator. The switch-matrix output system uses groups of switches connectively placed between N number of digital-to-analog convertors (DACs) and M electrode contacts to permit fewer, space-consuming DACs to be used in an implantable stimulator, thereby saving internal stimulator space. One embodiment of the switched matrix output uses switches to activate only one active-electrode subset of M electrode contacts at any one time, so that the total number of DACs contained in the stimulator can be less than the M total number of electrode contacts.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A stimulation output switching system for a multi-channel stimulator, said system comprising:
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N number of DACs (11); M number of electrode contacts (31); and N×
M number of switches (21);wherein each DAC (11) of the N number of DACs is coupled uniquely to one group (50) of M number of switches (21), each switch within each group (50) of M switches, in turn, is coupled to each one of M electrode contacts (31); and wherein M and N are whole numbers and M is greater than N. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A stimulation output switching system for a multi-channel stimulator, said system comprising:
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N number of DACs (12); M number of switches (121), grouped into N grouped sets (110) of switches, each set (110) having L number of switches (121); M number of electrode contacts (130); and L number of electrode contact groups (100), wherein each DAC (12) of the N number of DACs is coupled to one of the N grouped sets (110) of switches (121); wherein each switch (121) in one of the N set (110) of switches, in turn, is uniquely coupled to only one electrode contact (130) in each of L groups (100) of electrode contacts; wherein the whole numbers N, L and M are chosen such that, N×
L=M; andwherein M is greater than N. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of switching outputs in a multi-channel stimulator, said method comprising:
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(a) providing N number of DACs (11); (b) providing M number of electrode contacts (31); (c) coupling each of N DACs (11) to a group of M switches (31); (d) coupling each of the M switches (31) uniquely to each of M electrode contacts (31); and (e) connecting selected switches (21) by closing the switches, to electrically connect selected electrode contacts (31) to transmit current, while avoiding closing more than one switch (21) connected to the same electrode contact (31) at any one time, wherein there is at least N×
M total number of switches (31); andwherein M and N are whole numbers and M is greater than N. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of switching outputs in a multi-channel stimulator, said method comprising:
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(a) providing N number of DACs (12); (b) providing M number of electrode contacts (130) and M number of switches (110); (c) coupling each of N DACs (12) to at least one set (110) of switches having L number of switches (121) in the at least one set (110); (d) coupling each switch (121) within the at least one set (110) of switches, uniquely to one of the M electrode contacts (130); and (e) causing current to flow through selected electrode contacts (130) at any one time duration, Td, by closing the associated switches (121), wherein the whole numbers N, L and M are chosen such that M=N×
L, and M is greater than N. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification