Multiplexed electrode array extension
First Claim
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1. A method of selectively providing electrical therapeutic treatment to a patient comprising the steps of:
- implanting an electrode array having a number of electrodes near electrically excitable tissue of a patient;
implanting a pulse generator having a number of output sources in the patient, the pulse generator being separate from the electrode array and the number of output sources being less than the number of electrodes;
implanting an extension unit between the electrode array and the pulse generator, the extension unit electrically connects the output sources to a portion of the electrodes, the extension unit containing a controller, at least one switch, and a communications circuit configured to communicate with an external circuit;
determining which electrodes are physically positioned to provide optimal therapeutic treatment; and
configuring the extension unit through telemetry between the external circuit and the communications circuit to electrically couple the output sources to the electrodes identified in the determining step, the controller controlling the at least one switch to electrically couple the output sources to the electrodes identified in the determining step.
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Abstract
A method for selectively interacting with electrically excitable tissue of a patient is provided. In one configuration, an implantable pulse generator with a number of outputs and an array of electrodes with a number of electrodes being greater than the number of outputs may be implanted in a patient. An extension unit may be implanted between the implantable pulse generator and array. The extension unit acts to electrically couple the inputs of implantable pulse generator with the greater number of electrodes in the array so that the output sources are coupled to a portion of the electrodes.
23 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of selectively providing electrical therapeutic treatment to a patient comprising the steps of:
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implanting an electrode array having a number of electrodes near electrically excitable tissue of a patient; implanting a pulse generator having a number of output sources in the patient, the pulse generator being separate from the electrode array and the number of output sources being less than the number of electrodes; implanting an extension unit between the electrode array and the pulse generator, the extension unit electrically connects the output sources to a portion of the electrodes, the extension unit containing a controller, at least one switch, and a communications circuit configured to communicate with an external circuit; determining which electrodes are physically positioned to provide optimal therapeutic treatment; and configuring the extension unit through telemetry between the external circuit and the communications circuit to electrically couple the output sources to the electrodes identified in the determining step, the controller controlling the at least one switch to electrically couple the output sources to the electrodes identified in the determining step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of selectively measuring diagnostic information from a patient using an array of biomedical sensors, the method comprising the steps of:
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implanting a number of biomedical sensors of an implantable lead in a patient; implanting a diagnostic device having a number of input sources in the patient, the diagnostic device being separate from the array of biomedical sensors and the number of input sources being less than the number of biomedical sensors; coupling an extension unit between the implantable lead and the diagnostic device by connecting the implantable lead to the extension unit and connecting the unit to the diagnostic device, the extension unit electrically connecting the input sources to a portion of the biomedical sensors; determining which biomedical sensors are physically positioned to provide optimal diagnostic information; and configuring the extension unit to electrically couple the input sources to the biomedical sensors identified in the determining step. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of coupling an implanted array of electrodes and a separate implanted device, comprising the steps of:
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implanting an extension between the implanted array of electrodes and the implanted device; connecting the extension to the implanted device with a first set of conductors; connecting the extension to the array with a second set of conductors, the second set of conductors having more conductors than the first set of conductors; determining which portion of electrodes of the implanted array of electrodes is optimally positioned; and configuring the extension to electrically couple the portion of electrodes determined to be optimally positioned to the implanted device by telemetric communication between the extension and an external circuit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification