Neurostimulation system and method for medio-laterally steering current using ideal multipole configurations

• US 8,812,124 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• 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): DIETRICH, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US13/420,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/59
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes. The system comprises a user-controlled input device configured for generating directional control signals. The system further comprises control circuitry configured for sequentially defining a plurality of different ideal multipole configurations that includes two orthogonal ideal tripole configurations relative to the plurality of electrodes in response to the directional control signals, generating a plurality of stimulation parameter sets respectively corresponding to the plurality of different ideal multipole configuration, each stimulation parameter set defining relative amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the respective multipole configuration, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the plurality of stimulation parameter sets.

Claims

1. A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes implanted within tissue of a patient, comprising:

a user-controlled input device configured for generating directional control signals; and

control circuitry configured for sequentially defining a plurality of different ideal multipole configurations that includes two orthogonal ideal tripole configurations relative to the plurality of electrodes in response to the directional control signals, generating a plurality of stimulation parameter sets respectively corresponding to the plurality of different ideal multipole configuration, each stimulation parameter set defining relative amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the respective multipole configuration, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the plurality of stimulation parameter sets, such that a locus of a volume of activation (VOA) will be incrementally displace along the tissue of the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is configured for sequentially defining the different multipole configurations in the following order:

a first ideal tripole configuration oriented in a first direction, a second ideal tripole configuration oriented in the first direction, a third ideal tripole configuration oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a fourth ideal tripole configuration oriented in the second direction.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first ideal tripole configuration is a narrow symmetrical ideal tripole configuration, the second ideal tripole configuration is a narrow asymmetrical ideal tripole configuration, the third ideal tripole configuration is a narrow symmetrical ideal tripole configuration, and the fourth ideal tripole configuration is a wide symmetrical ideal tripole configuration.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured for incrementally changing a position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the first ideal tripole configuration and the second ideal tripole configuration.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured for maintaining the same position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the second ideal tripole configuration and the third ideal tripole configuration.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured for incrementally changing a position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the third ideal tripole configuration and the fourth ideal tripole configuration.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured for incrementally changing a position of a central ideal cathode in one direction relative to the plurality of electrodes between the first ideal tripole configuration and the second ideal tripole configuration, and incrementally changing the position of the central ideal cathode in the one direction relative to the plurality of electrodes between the third ideal tripole configuration and the fourth ideal tripole configuration.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is configured for maintaining the same position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the second ideal tripole configuration and the third ideal tripole configuration.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the control circuitry is configured for defining a quadpole configuration after the fourth ideal tripole configuration in response to the control signals.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is configured for maintaining the same positions of a central cathode and two anodes relative to the plurality of electrodes between the fourth ideal tripole configuration and the ideal quadpole configuration.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the quadpole configuration includes an anode positioned equidistant between the two anodes.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-control input device includes a control element, a continual actuation of which generates the directional control signals.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the user-controlled input device comprises one or more of a graphical arrow, a joystick, a touchpad, a button pad, a group of keyboard arrow keys, a mouse, a roller ball tracking device, and horizontal and vertical rocker-type arm switches for generating the directional control signals.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising telemetry circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured for transmitting the plurality of stimulation parameter sets to the neurostimulation device via the telemetry circuitry.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing containing the user input device and the control circuitry.

16. A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes implanted adjacent a spinal cord of the patient, comprising:

generating directional control signals;

sequentially defining a plurality of different ideal multipole configurations relative to the plurality of electrodes in response to the directional control signals, wherein the plurality of different ideal multipole configurations includes a first ideal tripole configuration medio-laterally oriented relative to the spinal cord and a second ideal tripole configuration rostro-caudally oriented relative to the spinal cord;

generating a plurality of stimulation parameter sets respectively corresponding to the plurality of ideal multipole configurations; and

instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the plurality of stimulation parameter sets, thereby emulating the respective ideal multipole configurations, such that a locus of a volume of activation (VOA) will be incrementally displaced relative to the spinal cord of the patient.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising sequentially defining the different multipole configurations in the following order:

a first ideal tripole configuration oriented medio-laterally relative to the spinal cord, a second ideal tripole configuration oriented medio-laterally relative to the spinal cord, a third ideal tripole configuration oriented rostro-caudally relative to the spinal cord, and a fourth ideal tripole configuration oriented rostro-caudally relative to the spinal cord.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first ideal tripole configuration is a narrow symmetrical ideal tripole configuration, the second ideal tripole configuration is a narrow asymmetrical ideal tripole configuration, the third ideal tripole configuration is a narrow symmetrical ideal tripole configuration, and the fourth ideal tripole configuration is a wide symmetrical ideal tripole configuration.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising incrementally changing a position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the first ideal tripole configuration and the second ideal tripole configuration.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining the same position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the second ideal tripole configuration and the third ideal tripole configuration.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising incrementally changing a position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the third ideal tripole configuration and the fourth ideal tripole configuration.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

incrementally changing a position of a central ideal cathode in a medio-lateral direction between the first ideal tripole configuration and the second ideal tripole configuration; and

incrementally changing the position of the central ideal cathode in rostro-caudal direction between the third ideal tripole configuration and the fourth ideal tripole configuration.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising maintaining the same position of a central ideal cathode relative to the plurality of electrodes between the second ideal tripole configuration and the third ideal tripole configuration.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising defining a quadpole configuration after the fourth ideal tripole configuration in response to the control signals.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising maintaining the same positions of a central cathode and two anodes relative to the plurality of electrodes between the fourth ideal tripole configuration and the ideal quadpole configuration.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the quadpole configuration includes an anode positioned equidistant between the two anodes.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising continually actuating a control element to generate the directional control signals.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein the conveyance of the electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the plurality of stimulation parameter sets incrementally medio-laterally displaces a volume of activation (VOA) across the spinal cord.