Short duration pre-pulsing to reduce stimulation-evoked side effects

• US 8,788,059 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Moffitt, Michael A., Peterson, David K. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, ERICA SHENGKAI
• Application Number:
  US13/651,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 607116-118
• US Class Current: 607/72
• 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 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36164 Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset

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).

Claims

1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:

a plurality of electrical contacts configured for being in electrical communication with a plurality of electrodes placed adjacent a region of tissue;

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, a stimulation pulse outputted to a second different one of the electrical contacts, and a sub-threshold, conditioning, post-pulse outputted to the first one of the electrical contacts, wherein a duration between the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse and the stimulation pulse is such that the region of tissue is rendered less excitable to the stimulation pulse, and the duration between the sub-threshold, conditioning post-pulse and the stimulation pulse is such that the region of tissue is further rendered less excitable to the stimulation pulse.

2. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse and the sub-threshold, conditioning post-pulse are both anodic, and the stimulation pulse is cathodic.

3. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse has a duration equal to or less than 150 μ

s.

4. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse has a duration equal to or less than 75 μ

s.

5. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation pulse has a duration less than 200 μ

s.

6. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse has a duration equal to or less than 200 μ

s.

7. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse and the stimulation pulse have a delay therebetween less than 100 μ

s.

8. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse and the stimulation pulse have a delay therebetween less than 30 μ

s.

9. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning pre-pulse and the stimulation pulse has no delay therebetween.

10. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning post-pulse and the stimulation pulse have a delay therebetween within 50 μ

s.

11. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the sub-threshold, conditioning post-pulse overlaps the stimulation pulse in time.

12. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, further comprising one or more stimulation leads carrying the plurality of electrodes in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical contacts.

13. The neurostimulation system of claim 12, wherein the one or more stimulation leads comprises one or more spinal cord stimulation leads.

14. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, further comprising memory configured for storing a set of stimulation parameters, wherein the control circuitry is configured for defining the pattern in accordance with the stimulation parameter set.

15. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, further comprising a case, wherein the plurality of electrical contacts, analog output circuitry, and control circuitry are contained in the case to form an implantable neurostimulator.