Magnetically coupled microstimulators

• US 7,729,758 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Haller, Matthew I., Parramon, Jordi
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US11/291,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 600/13, 600/14, 607/2, 607/3, 607/36, 607/61, 607/32, 607/33, 607/60, 607/65, 607/118, 607/116, 128/903
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Disclosed are implantable electronic devices and systems including a pair of microstimulators. The microstimulators include coils that are energized to generate magnetic fields aligned along a common axis.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first stimulator configured to be wholly implanted in a body of a patient, the first stimulator having a first coil;

a second stimulator configured to be wholly implanted in a body of a patient, the second stimulator having a second coil;

wherein the first stimulator forms a cavity with at least one opening within which the second stimulator is positionable to arrange the first and second coils such that, in operation, magnetic fields generated by the first and second coils are aligned along a common axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stimulator is cylindrical.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cavity is cylindrical.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second stimulators each comprise a pair of electrodes arranged and configured to deliver electrical stimulation to surrounding tissue.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the pair of electrodes comprises a stimulating electrode configured to stimulate the tissue and an indifferent electrode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second stimulators magnetically couple to one another.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second stimulators are one of an implantable pulse generator, a spinal cord stimulator, a cochlear implant, a deep brain stimulator, a drug pump, a microstimulator, or a micro-drug pump.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second coils both comprise annular coils that are disposed along a common axis.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first coil is positioned around the cavity.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first stimulator has first control circuitry configured for controlling stimulation energy output by the first stimulator, and a first housing hermetically containing the first control circuitry, and the second stimulator has second control circuitry different from the first control circuitry and configured for controlling stimulation energy output by the second stimulator, and a second housing hermetically containing the second control circuitry.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first stimulator has a first power source hermetically contained within the first housing, and the second stimulator has a second power source hermetically contained within the second housing.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first stimulator has a first programmable memory hermetically contained within the first housing, and the second stimulator has a second programmable memory hermetically contained within the second housing.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external controller configured to inductively communicate with the first and second stimulators via the respective first and second coils.

14. A stimulator for wholly implanting in a patient, comprising:

a housing having a cavity sized to receive a second stimulator, wherein the cavity is exposed to the exterior of the housing; and

a first coil configured to generate a magnetic field,

wherein the second stimulator is configured to be wholly implanted within the patient and the first coil and the cavity are arranged so that the magnetic field is to be aligned along a common axis with a magnetic field generated by a second coil of the second stimulator with the second stimulator positioned in the cavity.

15. The stimulator of claim 14, further comprising a pair of electrodes configured to deliver electrical stimulation to surrounding tissue.

16. The stimulator of claim 15, wherein the first coil is configured to magnetically couple to the second coil with the second stimulator positioned in the cavity.

17. The stimulator of claim 15, wherein the first coil comprises an annular coil disposed about the common axis.

18. The stimulator of claim 14, wherein the first coil is positioned around the cavity.

19. A method, comprising:

inserting a first stimulator into a cavity in a second stimulator, wherein the cavity has at least one opening;

wholly implanting the first stimulator and the second stimulator in a body of a patient, the first stimulator including a first coil and the second stimulator including a second coil; and

generating, with the first and second coils, magnetic fields aligned along a common axis.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first stimulator is inserted into the cavity prior to the implanting of the first and second stimulators into the body of the patient.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising removing the first stimulator from the second stimulator without disturbing a positioning inside the patient of electrodes connected to the first stimulator.

22. A system of magnetically coupled stimulators, comprising:

a first stimulator configured to be wholly implanted in a body of a patient comprising a first coil and a first electrical connection to a first collection of one or more electrodes configured to deliver electrical stimulation to surrounding tissues and nerves; and

a second stimulator configured to be wholly implanted in a body of a patient comprising a second coil, a second electrical connection to a second collection of one or more electrodes configured to deliver electrical stimulation to surrounding tissues and nerves, and a cavity forming at least one opening that is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the first stimulator,

wherein the cavity and the first and second coils are positioned so that the first and second coils are co-axially aligned when the portion of the first stimulator is received in the cavity.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first stimulator is sized to protrude out of the cavity.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first stimulator is sized to be contained with the cavity.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second coil is positioned around the cavity.