Multi-electrode implantable stimulator device with a single current path decoupling capacitor
First Claim
1. A stimulator device, comprising:
- a body for the device comprising a case;
a plurality of electrodes coupled to the body, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to contact a tissue of a patient and comprise a first anode and a first plurality of selectable cathodes;
a first set of circuitry, comprising;
a first decoupling capacitor connected to the first anode inside the case;
a first switch matrix connected to the first plurality of selectable cathodes and configured to select any of the first plurality of selectable cathodes as a first active cathode to establish a first current path with the first anode, wherein each first current path is established from the first decoupling capacitor through the first anode to the first active cathode,wherein the first switch matrix is not configured to connect any first cathode to a decoupling capacitor other than the first decoupling capacitor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are circuits and methods for a multi-electrode implantable stimulator device incorporating one decoupling capacitor in the current path established via at least one cathode electrode and at least one anode electrode. In one embodiment, the decoupling capacitor may be hard-wired to a dedicated anode on the device. The cathodes are selectively activatable via stimulation switches. In another embodiment, any of the electrodes on the devices can be selectively activatable as an anode or cathode. In this embodiment, the decoupling capacitor is placed into the current path via selectable anode and cathode stimulation switches. Regardless of the implementation, the techniques allow for the benefits of capacitive decoupling without the need to associate decoupling capacitors with every electrode on the multi-electrode device, which saves space in the body of the device. Although of particular benefit when applied to microstimulators, the disclosed technique can be used with space-saving benefits in any stimulator device.
33 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A stimulator device, comprising:
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a body for the device comprising a case; a plurality of electrodes coupled to the body, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to contact a tissue of a patient and comprise a first anode and a first plurality of selectable cathodes; a first set of circuitry, comprising; a first decoupling capacitor connected to the first anode inside the case; a first switch matrix connected to the first plurality of selectable cathodes and configured to select any of the first plurality of selectable cathodes as a first active cathode to establish a first current path with the first anode, wherein each first current path is established from the first decoupling capacitor through the first anode to the first active cathode, wherein the first switch matrix is not configured to connect any first cathode to a decoupling capacitor other than the first decoupling capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A stimulator device, comprising:
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a body for the device comprising a case; a plurality of electrodes coupled to the body, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to contact a tissue of a patient and comprise a first cathode and a first plurality of selectable anodes; a first set of circuitry, comprising; a first decoupling capacitor connected to the first cathode inside the case; a first switch matrix connected to the first plurality of selectable anodes and configured to select any of the first plurality of selectable anodes as a first active anode to establish a first current path with the first cathode, wherein each first current path is established from the first active anode through the first decoupling capacitor to the first cathode, wherein the first switch matrix is not configured to connect any first anode to a decoupling capacitor other than the first decoupling capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification