Stimulation design for neuromodulation

• US 8,401,655 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Ridder, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTON, AMANDA K
• Application Number:
  US13/314,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/46, 607 55- 57
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36096 Mood disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety or panic disorder
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

The present application relates to a new stimulation design which can be utilized to treat neurological conditions. The stimulation system produces a burst mode stimulation which alters the neuronal activity of the predetermined site, thereby treating the neurological condition or disorder. The burst stimulus comprises a plurality of groups of spike pulses having a maximum inter-spike interval of 100 milliseconds. The burst stimulus is separated by a substantially quiescent period of time between the plurality of groups of spike pulses. This inter-group interval may comprise a minimum of 5 seconds.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating nerve tissue of a patient to treat a neurological disorder using an implantable pulse generator, the method comprising:

generating, by the implantable pulse generator, a burst stimulus that comprises a plurality of groups of spike pulses with a substantially quiescent period between each group in the plurality of groups, wherein (i) each group of spikes begins and ends at a reference amplitude level, (ii) the burst stimulus is maintained at or above an amplitude level greater than the reference amplitude level between spikes within a respective group of the plurality of spikes, (iii) each spike within each group is separated by a maximum inter-spike interval of 5 milliseconds, and (iv) each group is separated by a minimum inter-group interval of 20 milliseconds;

providing the burst stimulus from the implantable pulse generator to a medical lead; and

applying the burst stimulus to the nerve tissue of the patient via one or several electrodes of the medical lead.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling a number of spikes within a group of spikes of the burst stimulus according a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling a maximum spike amplitude according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling an inter-spike interval according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling an inter-group interval according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

controlling a number of groups within the burst stimulus according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a hyperpolarizing pulse immediately before each group of spikes within the burst stimulus.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein an amplitude of the hyperpolarizing pulse is controlled by a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting, by the implantable pulse generator, hyperactivity within neural tissue using a sensor in the implantable pulse generator, wherein the generating the burst stimulus occurs in response to the detecting.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor is coupled to one or several electrodes of the medical lead.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the amplitude level between spikes within an individual group is controllable by a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is chronic pain.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is hypertension, heart rhythm disorders or sleep apnea.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is obesity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is Parkinson'"'"'s, epilepsy, tinnitus or phantom pain.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is dystonia or chorea.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the nerve tissue is peripheral nerve tissue.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the nerve tissue is brain tissue, spinal cord tissue, or brainstem tissue.