Arbitrary waveform generator and neural stimulation application

• US 8,874,219 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2011
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Trier, Stephen, Weisgarber, Jeffrey A., Polefko, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHMOOD, NADIA AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US13/081,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20120259383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/46, 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3615 Intensity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36175 Pulse width or duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/0328 in which the phase increment is adjustable, e.g. by using an adder-accumulator

Abstract

A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy.

Claims

1. A stimulation device for stimulating a stimulation region within a patient comprising:

a first waveform generation circuit for generating a first waveform part;

a second waveform generation circuit for generating a second waveform part different than the first waveform part;

a switch for selecting between an output of the first waveform generation circuit and an output of the second waveform generation circuit as an output of the switch; and

a stimulation pulse generating circuit connected to the output of the switch for generating a stimulation pulse comprised of a first pulse phase generated from the first waveform part and a second pulse phase generated from the second waveform part, with the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase provided in series, wherein

the stimulation pulse is provided to a stimulation region of the patient.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first waveform generation circuit is comprised of a first memory storing a plurality of samples of a desired waveform, and wherein the stimulation device is further comprised of:

a register for storing, or an input for receiving, a step size; and

an offset register for storing, or an input for receiving, an offset value, wherein

at least a subset of the plurality of samples is retrieved from the first memory based on both the step size and the offset value for generating the first waveform part.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second waveform generation circuit is comprised of a second memory or another area of the first memory for storing a plurality of additional samples of another desired waveform, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of additional samples is retrieved from the second memory or the another area of the first memory based one or both of another step size and/or another offset for generating the second waveform part.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second waveform generation circuit is a circuit for generating a waveform based on a mathematical function.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the second waveform generation circuit is a register for storing, or an input for receiving, the amplitude value of a rectangular wave, and wherein the second waveform part resembles the rectangular wave.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first waveform generation circuit is a circuit for generating the first waveform part based on a mathematical equation.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first waveform generation circuit is a register for storing, or an input for receiving, the amplitude value of a rectangular wave, and wherein the first waveform part resembles the rectangular wave.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a circuit for inserting a variable delay between the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase, wherein the delay is controllable.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is contained within a hermetically sealed case for implanting in the patient.

10. A stimulation device for stimulating a stimulation region within a patient comprising:

a controlling component;

a first waveform generation circuit for generating a first waveform part;

a second waveform generation circuit for generating a second waveform part different than the first waveform part;

a switch for selecting between an output of the first waveform generation circuit and an output of the second waveform generation circuit as an output of the switch, wherein the switch operation of the switch is controlled by the controlling component;

a stimulation pulse generating circuit connected to the output of the switch for generating a stimulation pulse generated from a first pulse phase generated from the first waveform part and a second pulse phase generated the second waveform part, with the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase provided in series;

a circuit for inserting a variable delay equal to or greater than zero between the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase, wherein the delay is controlled by the controlling component and no charge is delivered during the delay; and

at least one electrode connected to the stimulation pulse generating circuit for providing the stimulation pulse for stimulating a stimulation region of the patient.

11. The stimulation device of claim 10, further adapted for implantation in the patient.

12. A device for stimulating a stimulation region within a patient comprising:

a controlling component;

a first waveform generation circuit comprised of a first memory storing a plurality of samples of a first desired waveform for generating a first waveform part;

a register for storing, or an input for inputting, a step size, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of samples is retrieved from the memory based on the step size for generating the first waveform part;

a second waveform generation circuit for generating a second waveform part different than the first waveform part;

a switch for selecting between an output of the first waveform generation circuit and an output of the second waveform generation circuit as an output of the switch, wherein the switch operation of the switch is controlled by the controlling component;

a stimulation pulse generating circuit connected to the output of the switch for generating a stimulation pulse generated from at least one of the first waveform part or the second waveform part; and

at least one electrode connected to the stimulation pulse generating circuit for providing the stimulation pulse for stimulating a stimulation region of the patient.

13. The stimulation device of claim 12 adapted for implantation in the patient.

14. The stimulation device of claim 12, further comprising an offset register for storing, or an input for inputting, an offset value, wherein the at least a subset of the plurality of samples retrieved from the memory is based on both the step size and the offset value for generating the first waveform part.

15. The stimulation device of claim 14, further comprising a time scaling circuit for scaling the time duration of either one or both of the first phase pulse or the second phase pulse.

16. A stimulation device for stimulating a stimulation region within a patient comprising:

a first waveform generation circuit comprised of a first memory storing a plurality of samples of a first desired waveform for generating a first waveform part;

a register for storing a step size;

an offset register for storing an offset, wherein at least a subset of the plurality of samples is retrieved from the memory by the first waveform generation circuit based on both the step size and the offset for generating the first waveform part;

a second waveform generation circuit for generating a second waveform part different than the first waveform part;

a stimulation pulse generating circuit for generating a stimulation pulse generated from a first pulse phase generated from the first waveform part and a second pulse phase generated from the second waveform part, with the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase provided in series; and

a circuit for inserting a variable delay equal to or greater than zero between the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase, and no charge is delivered during the delay; and

at least one electrode connected to the stimulation pulse generating circuit for providing the stimulation pulse for stimulating a stimulation region of the patient.

17. A stimulation device for stimulating a stimulation region within a patient comprising:

a first waveform generation circuit comprised of a first memory storing a plurality of samples of a first desired waveform;

a register for storing a step size for input into the waveform generation circuit, and

a stimulation pulse generating circuit for generating a stimulation pulse from a subset of the plurality of samples that are retrieved from the memory based on a selected step size, such that a different step size would result in a different subset of the plurality of samples being retrieved from the memory for generating a different stimulation pulse; and

at least one electrode connected to the stimulation pulse generating circuit for providing the stimulation pulse for stimulating a stimulation region of the patient.

18. The stimulation device of claim 17, further comprising at least one electrode, said device being adapted for implanting in a patient with said at least one electrode for providing the stimulation pulse to a stimulation region of the patient.

19. The stimulation device of claim 18 being adapted for stimulating one or more nerves located in the stimulation region of the patient.

20. A stimulation device for stimulating a stimulation region within a patient comprising:

a register for storing, or an input for receiving, a step size;

an offset register for storing, or an input for receiving, an offset value;

a first waveform generation circuit comprising a first memory storing a plurality of samples of a desired waveform, said first waveform generation circuit being configured for generating a first waveform part from a subset of the plurality of samples retrieved from the first memory in reliance upon both the step size and the offset value for generating the first waveform part;

a second waveform generation circuit for generating a second waveform part different than the first waveform part;

a switch for selecting between an output of the first waveform generation circuit and an output of the second waveform generation circuit as an output of the switch; and

a stimulation pulse generating circuit connected to the output of the switch for generating a stimulation pulse comprised of a first pulse phase generated from the first waveform part and a second pulse phase generated from the second waveform part, with the first pulse phase and the second pulse phase provided in series, wherein

the stimulation pulse is provided to a stimulation region of the patient.

21. The stimulation device of claim 20, further comprising at least one electrode, said device being adapted for implanting in a patient with said at least one electrode for providing the stimulation pulse to a stimulation region of the patient.

22. The stimulation device of claim 21 being adapted for stimulating one or more nerves located in the stimulation region of the patient.