System and method for uniformly displacing a region of neural stimulation

• US 7,742,819 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Moffitt, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Porter, Jr.; Gary A
• Application Number:
  US11/557,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/46, 607 63- 72, 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

A tissue stimulation system and computer software and method of operating the system is provided. An array of electrodes is placed contact with tissue of a patient (e.g., neural tissue), and electrical current is conveyed within the electrode array, thereby creating a stimulation region in the tissue. Electrical current is shifted between cathodes of the electrode array in incremental steps over a range, thereby causing displacement of the stimulation region at substantially uniform distances over the incremental steps. The electrical current may be shifted between the cathodes in accordance with a sigmoid-like function of a position of the stimulation region. A navigation table containing a series of states and corresponding gradually and non-uniformly changing electrical current values can be accessed, in which case, the electrical current may be shifted between the cathodes by incrementing through the states of the navigation table.

Claims

1. A method of operating a tissue stimulation system, comprising:

placing an array of electrodes in contact with tissue of a patient;

conveying an electrical current within the electrode array, thereby creating a stimulation region in the tissue; and

shifting electrical current between cathodes of the electrode array in pre-calculated incremental steps over a range, wherein the incremental steps at boundaries of the range are greater than the incremental steps at a center of the range to displace the stimulation region at substantially uniform distances over the incremental steps.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is shifted in accordance with a sigmoid function of a position of the stimulation region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is shifted between equal numbers of cathodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is shifted between unequal numbers of cathodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is shifted between only two cathodes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is fractionalized, and a smallest incremental step is equal to or less than five percent and a greatest incremental step is equal to or greater than ten percent.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical current is fractionalized, and a smallest incremental step is equal to or less than two percent and a greatest incremental step is equal to or greater than twenty percent.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a navigation table containing a series of states and corresponding electrical current values for the cathodes, wherein the electrical current is shifted by respectively incrementing through the states.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the tissue is neural tissue.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the incremental steps are non-uniform.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implanting the electrode array adjacent the tissue;

configuring a controller that generates an electrical current to be delivered to the electrode array;

selecting an electrode configuration based on a therapeutic effect of the stimulation region as the electrical current is shifted between cathodes; and

programming the controller with the electrode configuration.

12. A method of operating a tissue stimulation system, comprising:

placing an array of electrodes in contact with tissue of a patient;

conveying an electrical current within the electrode array, thereby creating a stimulation region in the tissue; and

shifting electrical current between cathodes of the electrode array in incremental steps over a range in accordance with a sigmoid function of a position of the stimulation region, wherein the incremental steps at boundaries of the range are greater than the incremental steps at a center of the range.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sigmoid function is an optimum sigmoid function.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical current is shifted between equal numbers of cathodes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical current is shifted between unequal numbers of cathodes.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical current is shifted between only two cathodes.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical current is fractionalized, and a smallest incremental step is equal to or less than five percent and a greatest incremental step is equal to or greater than ten percent.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical current is fractionalized, and a smallest incremental step is equal to or less than two percent and a greatest incremental step is equal to or greater than twenty percent.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising accessing a navigation table containing a series of states and corresponding electrical current values for the cathodes, wherein the electrical current is shifted by respectively incrementing through the states.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the tissue is neural tissue.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

implanting the electrode array adjacent the tissue;

configuring a controller that generates an electrical current to be delivered to the electrode array;

selecting an electrode configuration based on a therapeutic effect of the stimulation region as the electrical current is shifted between cathodes; and

programming the controller with the electrode configuration.

22. A method of operating a tissue stimulation system, comprising:

placing an array of electrodes in contact with tissue of a patient;

conveying an electrical current within the electrode array, thereby creating a stimulation region in the tissue;

accessing a navigation table containing a series of states and corresponding gradually and non-uniformly changing electrical current values, wherein differences between the electrical current values of adjacent states in the navigation table at boundaries of a range of states are greater than differences between adjacent electrical current values of adjacent states in the navigation table at a center of the range of states; and

shifting electrical current between cathodes of the electrode array by incrementing through the states of the navigation table.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical current is shifted between equal numbers of cathodes.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical current is shifted between unequal numbers of cathodes.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical current is shifted between only two cathodes.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical current values are fractionalized, and a smallest difference between adjacent states in the navigation table is equal to or less than five percent and a greatest difference between adjacent states in the navigation table is equal to or greater than ten percent.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the electrical current values are fractionalized, and a smallest difference between adjacent states in the navigation table is equal to or less than two percent and a greatest difference between adjacent states in the navigation table is equal to or greater than twenty percent.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the tissue is neural tissue.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

implanting the electrode array adjacent the tissue;

configuring a controller that generates an electrical current to be delivered to the electrode array;

selecting an electrode configuration based on a therapeutic effect of the stimulation region as the electrical current is shifted between the two electrodes; and

programming the controller with the electrode configuration.