Systems and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
- applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, the electrical signal being delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value;
using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, detecting a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; and
based at least in part on the detected impedance change, automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different than the first value, without human intervention, wherein the electrical signal is applied to a first contact set, and wherein automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter includes applying the electrical signal to a second contact set having a different member than the first contact set.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient. The electrical signal is delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value. Using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device is detected. Based at least in part on the detected impedance change, the method can further include automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different from the first, without human intervention.
46 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, the electrical signal being delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value; using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, detecting a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change, automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different than the first value, without human intervention, wherein the electrical signal is applied to a first contact set, and wherein automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter includes applying the electrical signal to a second contact set having a different member than the first contact set.
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2. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, the electrical signal being delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value; using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, detecting a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device, wherein detecting a change in an impedance includes detecting an increase in impedance; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change, automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different than the first value, without human intervention, wherein the implanted portion of the stimulation system includes a constant current source having a compliance voltage level with a first value, and wherein automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter includes; increasing the compliance voltage level from the first value to a second value higher than the first; and increasing a strength of the signal beyond a strength available with the first value. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, the electrical signal being delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value; using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, detecting a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device, wherein detecting a change in an impedance includes detecting a decrease in impedance, and wherein detecting a decrease includes detecting a decrease caused by proximity of the electrical contacts of the signal delivery device to cerebral spinal fluid; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change, automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different than the first value, without human intervention. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, the electrical signal being delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value; using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, detecting a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change, automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different than the first value, without human intervention, wherein detecting a change in an impedance includes detecting a change in impedance as a function of time and wherein the method further comprises establishing a trend for future changes in impedance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery electrical contact in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient, the electrical signal having a signal delivery parameter with a first value; automatically identifying changes in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery electrical contact, as a function of time; based at least in part on identifying the changes in impedance as a function of time, predicting a future value of the impedance; and based at least in part on the predicted future value of the impedance, automatically performing a task, including; automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different than the first value, without human intervention; and applying a second therapeutic electrical signal to the patient using the second value of the signal delivery parameter. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a pulse generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector carried by the implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed; receive an indication of an impedance change from the impedance detector; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change and without human intervention, automatically adjust a value of a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which the patient-implantable portion delivers an electrical signal to the electrical contact, wherein the electrical signal is applied to a first contact set, and wherein automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter includes applying the electrical signal to a second contact set having a different member than the first contact set. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a pulse generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector carried by the implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed; receive an indication of an impedance change from the impedance detector; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change and without human intervention, automatically adjust a value of a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which the patient-implantable portion delivers an electrical signal to the electrical contact, wherein the implantable portion includes a constant current source having a compliance voltage level with a first value, and wherein automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter includes decreasing the compliance level from the first value to a second value less than the first value. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a pulse generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector carried by the implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed; receive an indication of an impedance change from the impedance detector, wherein receiving an indication of an impedance change includes receiving an indication of an open circuit; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change and without human intervention, automatically adjust a value of a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which the patient-implantable portion delivers an electrical signal to the electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a pulse generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector carried by the implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed; receive an indication of an impedance change from the impedance detector; and based at least in part on the detected impedance change and without human intervention, automatically adjust a value of a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which the patient-implantable portion delivers an electrical signal to the electrical contact, wherein the pulse generator outputs a therapeutic electrical signal and a diagnostic signal, and wherein the impedance detector is coupled to the electrical circuit to detect a characteristic of a diagnostic electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a pulse generator and a signal delivery device having an electrode positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that when executed; automatically identifies changes in the impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time; based at least in part on identifying the changes in impedance as a function of time, predicts a future value of the impedance; and based at least in part on the predicted future value of the impedance, automatically performs a task, wherein automatically performing a task includes comparing the identified impedance changes with a predetermined schedule of impedance changes. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a pulse generator and a signal delivery device having an electrode positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; an impedance detector operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrode to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that when executed; automatically identifies changes in the impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time; based at least in part on identifying the changes in impedance as a function of time, predicts a future value of the impedance; and based at least in part on the predicted future value of the impedance, automatically performs a task, wherein identifying changes in impedance includes identifying intermittent impedance increases, and wherein predicting a future value of the impedance includes predicting a failure of the signal delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification