Systems and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
- automatically monitoring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes an implantable signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient;
identifying changes in the impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time;
determining an impedance trend based on identified changes in the impedance; and
automatically adjusting a parameter in accordance with which an electrical signal is delivered via the signal delivery device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes applying a therapeutic electrical signal to a patient via an implanted portion of a patient stimulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient. The electrical signal is delivered in accordance with a signal delivery parameter having a first value. Using the implanted portion of the patient stimulation system, a change in an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device is detected. Based at least in part on the detected impedance change, the method can further include automatically adjusting the value of the signal delivery parameter from the first value to a second value different from the first, without human intervention.
81 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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automatically monitoring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes an implantable signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient; identifying changes in the impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time; determining an impedance trend based on identified changes in the impedance; and automatically adjusting a parameter in accordance with which an electrical signal is delivered via the signal delivery device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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automatically monitoring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes an implantable signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population Of a patient; identifying changes in the impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time; determining an impedance trend based on identified changes in the impedance, wherein determining an impedance trend includes predicting a future value of the impedance; and automatically adjusting a compliance margin in accordance with which an electrical signal is delivered via the signal delivery device.
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7. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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automatically monitoring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes an implantable signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient; identifying changes in the impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time; determining an impedance trend based on identified changes in the impedance; determining whether the impedance trend conforms with a target impedance trend; and providing a notification when the impedance trend does not conform with the target impedance trend.
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8. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying an electrical signal to a target neural population of a patient via an implanted signal delivery device; measuring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device, wherein measuring an impedance includes measuring an impedance as a function of time; determining a predicted future value of the impedance; and automatically adjusting a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which the electrical signal is applied. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying an electrical signal to a target neural population of a patient via an implanted signal delivery device; measuring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device, wherein measuring an impedance includes measuring an impedance as a function of time; determining a predicted future value of the impedance; and automatically adjusting a compliance margin in accordance with which the electrical signal is applied.
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13. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a first electrical signal to a target neural population of a patient via an implanted signal delivery device, wherein the signal delivery device includes a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact; measuring an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device, wherein measuring an impedance includes measuring an impedance as a function of time; determining a predicted future value of the impedance; and in response to the predicted future value exceeding a targeted future value, applying a second electrical signal via the second electrical contact.
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14. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population of a patient when implanted; and a patient-implantable pulse generator having a computer-readable medium and a processor, wherein the pulse generator is electrically coupleable to the signal delivery device to form an electrical circuit that includes the electrical contact, and wherein the computer-readable medium contains instructions that, when executed; determine an impedance of the electrical circuit as a function of time; determine a predicted future value of the impedance; and based on the determined impedance, adjust a signal delivery parameter for an electrical signal generated by the pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification