Heuristic safety net for transitioning configurations in a neural stimulation system
First Claim
1. A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising:
- telemetry circuitry configured for communicating with the electrical neurostimulator; and
a controller/processor configured for defining an immediate electrode configuration, conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, defining a final electrode configuration, defining a series of intermediate electrode configurations using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration, instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration;
wherein the heuristic set of rules comprises;
determining whether there exists a first electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the first electrode pairing is determined to exist;
determining whether there exists a second electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the second electrode pairing is determined to exist;
determining whether there exists a third electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the third electrode pairing is determined to exist; and
determining whether there exists a fourth electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the fourth electrode pairing is determined to exist.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method using a plurality of electrodes. An immediate electrode configuration is defined, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, a final electrode configuration is defined, a series of intermediate electrode configurations is defined using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration, electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations, and electrical energy is conveyed to the electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration.
37 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising:
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telemetry circuitry configured for communicating with the electrical neurostimulator; and a controller/processor configured for defining an immediate electrode configuration, conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, defining a final electrode configuration, defining a series of intermediate electrode configurations using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration, instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration; wherein the heuristic set of rules comprises; determining whether there exists a first electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the first electrode pairing is determined to exist; determining whether there exists a second electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the second electrode pairing is determined to exist; determining whether there exists a third electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the third electrode pairing is determined to exist; and determining whether there exists a fourth electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the fourth electrode pairing is determined to exist. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising:
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telemetry circuitry configured for communicating with the electrical neurostimulator; and a controller/processor configured for defining an immediate electrode configuration, conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, defining a final electrode configuration, defining a series of intermediate electrode configurations using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration, instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration, wherein the controller/processor is configured for repeatedly defining the next intermediate electrode configuration by shifting anodic and/or cathodic current from the immediate previously defined electrode configuration to the next intermediate electrode configuration until the intermediate electrode configuration matches the final electrode configuration; wherein the heuristic set of rules comprises limiting shifting of the anodic and/or cathodic current from the immediate previously defined electrode configuration to the next intermediate electrode configuration based on one or more of the following;
a maximum change in a cathodic current on an individual one of the electrodes, a maximum change in an anodic current on an individual one of the electrodes, a total maximum change in cathodic current on the electrodes, and a total maximum change in anodic current on the electrodes;wherein each of the electrodes has an electrical current transition between the immediate previously defined electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration that is one of the following;
no current change transition, a cathodic current increase transition, a cathodic current decrease transition, a cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition, an anodic current increase transition, an anodic current decrease transition, and an anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and wherein the controller/processor is configured for applying the heuristic set of rules to the electrical current transitions to define the next intermediate electrode configuration;wherein the heuristic set of rules further comprises determining whether all of the electrodes either have the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition or the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and if all of the electrodes either have the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition or the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, determining whether there exists multiple electrodes each having the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and if the multiple electrodes exist, determining which one of the multiple electrodes has the greatest cathodic current for the final electrode configuration, and shifting anodic current from the one electrode to another electrode. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes, comprising:
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defining an immediate electrode configuration; conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration; defining a final electrode configuration; defining a series of intermediate electrode configurations using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration; conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations; and conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration; wherein the heuristic set of rules comprises; determining whether there exists a first electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the first electrode pairing is determined to exist; determining whether there exists a second electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the second electrode pairing is determined to exist; determining whether there exists a third electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the third electrode pairing is determined to exist; and determining whether there exists a fourth electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the fourth electrode pairing is determined to exist. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes, comprising:
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defining an immediate electrode configuration; conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration; defining a final electrode configuration; defining a series of intermediate electrode configurations using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration; conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations; and conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration; wherein defining the series of intermediate electrode configurations comprises repeatedly defining a next intermediate electrode configuration based on an immediate previously defined electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration until the next intermediate electrode configuration matches the final electrode configuration; wherein repeatedly defining the next intermediate electrode configuration comprises shifting anodic and/or cathodic current from the immediate previously defined electrode configuration to the next intermediate electrode configuration until the intermediate electrode configuration matches the final electrode configuration; wherein the heuristic set of rules further comprises determining whether all of the electrodes either have the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition or the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and if all of the electrodes either have the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition or the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition determining whether there exists multiple electrodes each having the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and if the multiple electrodes exist, determining which one of the multiple electrodes has the greatest cathodic current for the final electrode configuration, and shifting anodic current from the one electrode to another electrode. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification