System and method for increasing relative intensity between cathodes and anodes of neurostimulation system using pulse slicing

• US 8,355,798 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Dongchul
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US12/612,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 607 69- 74, 607/76
• US Class Current: 607/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset

Abstract

A method and neurostimulation system for providing therapy to a patient is provided. A plurality of electrodes is placed adjacent to tissue of the patient. A plurality of first electrical pulses is delivered to a first set of the electrodes, at least a second electrical pulse is delivered to a second set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, and at least a third electrical pulse is delivered to a third set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses. The first electrical pulses have a first polarity, and each of the second electrical pulse(s) and third electrical pulses(s) has a second a second polarity opposite to the first polarity. The second and third electrical pulses are temporarily offset from each other.

Claims

1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:

a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes;

analog output circuitry configured for delivering electrical pulses to the electrical terminals; and

control circuitry configured for controlling the analog output circuitry to deliver a plurality of first electrical pulses to a first set of the electrical terminals, the first electrical pulses having a first polarity, to deliver at least a second electrical pulse having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity to a second set of the electrical terminals during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse is configured for therapeutically stimulating tissue of the patient, and to deliver at least a third electrical pulse having the second polarity to a third set of the electrical terminals during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are temporarily offset from each other.

2. A method of providing therapy to a patient using the neurostimulation system of claim 1, comprising:

implanting the plurality of electrodes within the patient;

delivering the plurality of first electrical pulses to the first set of the electrical terminals, the first electrical pulses having a first polarity;

delivering the at least a second electrical pulse having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity to the second set of the electrical terminals during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse therapeutically stimulates tissue of the patient; and

delivering the at least a third electrical pulse having the second polarity to the third set of the electrical terminals during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse comprises a plurality of electrical pulses.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least a third electrical pulse therapeutically stimulates tissue of the patient.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least a third electrical pulse does not therapeutically stimulate tissue of the patient.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse do not temporarily intersect each other.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnitudes of the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are equal.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the widths of the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are equal.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein each of the first electrical pulses is anodic, and the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are cathodic.

10. The method of claim 2, delivering at least a fourth electrical pulse having the second polarity to a fourth set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, wherein the second, third, and fourth electrical pulses are temporarily offset from each other.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the tissue is spinal cord tissue.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrodes is arranged medio-laterally along the spinal cord tissue.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second set of electrodes is adjacent dorsal column neural fibers of the spinal cord tissue, the first set of electrodes is adjacent dorsal root neural fibers of the spinal cord tissue, the at least a second electrical pulse generates action potentials in the dorsal column neural fibers, and the at least a first electrical pulse increases the action potential threshold of the dorsal root neural fibers.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein plurality of electrodes is arranged rostro-caudally along the spinal cord tissue.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second set of electrodes is a first distance from a first neural fiber bundle and is a second greater distance from a second neural fiber bundle, the at least a second electrical pulse generates action potentials in the first and second neural fibers bundles, and the first electrical pulses block at least some of the action potentials in the first neural fiber bundle.

16. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse comprises a plurality of electrical pulses.

17. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the at least a third electrical pulse is configured for therapeutically stimulating tissue of the patient.

18. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the at least a third electrical pulse is not configured for therapeutically stimulating tissue of the patient.

19. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse do not temporarily intersect each other.

20. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the magnitudes of the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are equal.

21. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the widths of the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are equal.

22. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein each of the first electrical pulses is anodic, and the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse are cathodic.

23. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured for controlling the analog output circuitry to deliver at least a fourth electrical pulse having the second polarity to a fourth set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, wherein the at least a second electrical pulse, the at least a third electrical pulse, and the at least a fourth electrical pulse are temporarily offset from each other.

24. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, further comprising at least one lead that carries the electrodes.

25. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the entireties of the at least a second electrical pulse and the at least a third electrical pulse during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses.