Implantable neural stimulator with mode switching

• US 8,768,456 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Libbus, Imad, Kramer, Andrew P., Linder, William J., Stahmann, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US13/909,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3688 configured for switching the pacing mode, e.g. from AAI to DDD

Abstract

Various aspects of the present subject matter relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments comprise at least one port to connect to at least one lead with at least electrode, stimulation circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide at least one neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation target using the at least one electrode, sensing circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide a sensed signal, and a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy and to the sensing circuitry to receive the sensed signal. In response to a triggering event, the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

Claims

1. An implantable system, comprising:

at least one port to connect to at least one lead with at least electrode;

stimulation circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide at least one neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation target using the at least one electrode;

sensing circuitry connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide sensed signal; and

a controller connected to the stimulation circuitry to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy and to the sensing circuitry, wherein in response to a triggering event the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes to switch neural stimulation targets,

wherein the controller is adapted to operate the device in at least two modes and to switch modes in response to a triggering event, the at least two modes are provided in at least one set of modes selected from the group consisting of a set of operation modes, a set of stimulation site modes and a set of feedback modes, and

wherein, with respect to the set of feedback modes, the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes selected from the group consisting of;

a set of sensing site modes, each sensin site mode to provide a sensed signal from a predetermined sensing site to provide the feedback control for the neural stimulation therapy, wherein the controller is adapted to switch between at least two sensing site modes to switch sensing sites; and

a set of sensed parameter modes, each sensed parameter mode to sense a predetermined parameter or composite parameter wherein the controller is adapted to switch between at least two sensed parameter modes to switch between parameters, between composite parameters, or between a parameter and a composite parameter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes an automatic trigger.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes a patient-actuated trigger.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, with respect to the set of operation modes, the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes selected from the group consisting of:

a stimulation and sensing mode in which the neural stimulation therapy is provided using the sensed signal;

a stimulation mode in which the neural stimulation therapy is provided without using the sensed signal; and

a sensing mode in which the neural stimulation therapy is not provided to the neural stimulation target.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, with respect to the set of stimulation site modes, each stimulation site mode to provide the neural stimulation therapy to a predetermined neural stimulation target, wherein the controller is adapted to switch between at least two stimulation site modes to switch neural stimulation targets.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to another triggering event the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes to switch sensing sites from which to provide the sensed signal, to switch sensed parameters used to provide the sensed signal, or to switch both sensing sites and sensed parameters.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is adapted to switch between at least two parameters, between at least two composite parameters, or between a parameter and a composite parameter.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is adapted to switch among at least three parameters, at least three composite parameters, or at least three parameters or composite parameters.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least two modes are provided in the set of sensing site modes such that the controller is adapted to switch between at least two sensing sites.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is adapted to switch among three or more sensing sites.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the other triggering event includes an automatic trigger.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the triggering event includes a patient-actuated trigger.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation circuitry includes at least one stimulation circuit connected to the at least one port and adapted to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy to at least one neural stimulation target and to provide a cardiac rhythm management (CRM) therapy using the at least one electrode;

the controller is connected to the at least one stimulation circuitry to provide the at least one neural stimulation therapy and the CRM therapy, wherein in response to another triggering event the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes selected from the group consisting of;

a neural stimulation therapy mode in which the neural stimulation therapy is provided;

a CRM therapy mode in which the CRM therapy is provided; and

a neural stimulation and CRM therapy mode in which the neural stimulation therapy is provided and the CRM therapy is provided.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is adapted to switch between at least two modes selected from the group consisting of the neural stimulation therapy mode, the CRM therapy mode, the neural stimulation and CRM therapy mode, and a drug therapy mode in which the controller control a drug delivery.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the other triggering event includes an automatic trigger.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the other triggering event includes a patient-actuated trigger.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a single device housing to contain the at least one stimulation circuit and at least one sensing circuit.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a first device housing to contain at least one stimulation circuit and a second device housing to contain at least one other stimulation circuit.