Techniques for sensing and adjusting a compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator device
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting a compliance voltage in a stimulator device, comprising:
- using at least one source circuit and at least one sink circuit to provide stimulation pulses to a load between at least two electrodes;
during the stimulation pulses, determining at least one first voltage across the at least one source circuit and determining at least one second voltage across the at least one sink circuit; and
using the determined first and second voltages to adjust the compliance voltage,wherein the compliance voltage is formed across the series connection of the at least one source circuit, the load, and the at least one sink circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods and circuitry for monitoring and adjusting a compliance voltage in an implantable stimulator devices to an optimal value that is sufficiently high to allow for proper circuit performance (i.e., sufficient current output), but low enough that power is not needlessly wasted via excessive voltage drops across the current output circuitry. The algorithm measures output voltages across the current source and sink circuitry during at least periods of actual stimulation when both the current sources and sinks are operable, and adjusts the compliance voltage so as to reduce these output voltages to within guard band values preferably indicative for operation in transistor saturation. The output voltages can additionally be monitored during periods between stimulation pulses to improve the accuracy of the measurement, and is further beneficial in that such additional measurements are not perceptible to the patient.
47 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting a compliance voltage in a stimulator device, comprising:
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using at least one source circuit and at least one sink circuit to provide stimulation pulses to a load between at least two electrodes; during the stimulation pulses, determining at least one first voltage across the at least one source circuit and determining at least one second voltage across the at least one sink circuit; and using the determined first and second voltages to adjust the compliance voltage, wherein the compliance voltage is formed across the series connection of the at least one source circuit, the load, and the at least one sink circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for adjusting a compliance voltage in a stimulator device, comprising:
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using at least one source circuit and at least one sink circuit to provide a first stimulation pulse to a load between at least two electrodes; during the first stimulation pulse, determining at least one first voltage across the at least one source circuit; using the at least one source circuit and the at least one sink circuit to provide a second stimulation pulse to the load; during the second stimulation pulse, determining at least one second voltage across the at least one sink circuit; and using the at least one first voltage and the at least one second voltage to adjust the compliance voltage, wherein the compliance voltage is formed across the series connection of the at least one source circuit, the load, and the at least one sink circuit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification