Short duration pre-pulsing to reduce stimulation-evoked side-effects
First Claim
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1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:
- a plurality of electrical contacts;
analog output circuitry configured for outputting electrical pulses to the plurality of electrical contacts in accordance with a pulse pattern; and
control circuitry configured for defining the pulse pattern, such that the electrical pulses comprise a sub-threshold, conditioning, pre-pulse outputted to a first one of the electrical contacts to render a first region of tissue less excitable to subsequent stimulation, and a stimulation pulse outputted to a second different one of the electrical contacts to stimulate a second different region of the tissue, wherein the conditioning pre-pulse is equal to or shorter in duration than the stimulation pulse, and a duration between the conditioning pulse and the stimulation pulse is such that the first region of tissue is rendered less excitable to the stimulation pulse.
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Abstract
A method and neurostimulation system of providing therapy to a patient is provided. At least one electrode is place in contact with tissue of a patient. A sub-threshold, hyperpolarizing, conditioning pre-pulse (e.g., an anodic pulse) is conveyed from the electrode(s) to render a first region of the tissue (e.g., dorsal root fibers) less excitable to stimulation, and a depolarizing stimulation pulse (e.g., a cathodic pulse) is conveyed from the electrode(s) to stimulate a second different region of the tissue (e.g., dorsal column fibers). The conditioning pre-pulse has a relatively short duration (e.g., less than 200 μs).
55 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:
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a plurality of electrical contacts; analog output circuitry configured for outputting electrical pulses to the plurality of electrical contacts in accordance with a pulse pattern; and control circuitry configured for defining the pulse pattern, such that the electrical pulses comprise a sub-threshold, conditioning, pre-pulse outputted to a first one of the electrical contacts to render a first region of tissue less excitable to subsequent stimulation, and a stimulation pulse outputted to a second different one of the electrical contacts to stimulate a second different region of the tissue, wherein the conditioning pre-pulse is equal to or shorter in duration than the stimulation pulse, and a duration between the conditioning pulse and the stimulation pulse is such that the first region of tissue is rendered less excitable to the stimulation pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification