Implantable microstimulators and methods for unidirectional propagation of action potentials
First Claim
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1. An implantable electrical stimulation device comprising:
- a device body;
electrical circuitry disposed within the device body and configured and arranged to generate electrical stimulation;
a power source disposed within the device body and coupled to the electrical circuitry;
at least four electrodes disposed on a portion of the device body and coupled to the electrical circuitry for delivery of the electrical stimulation to tissue, wherein the device is configured and arranged so that each of the electrodes can be driven by the electrical circuitry as a cathode or an anode, wherein the at least four electrodes comprises at least one electrode formed as a ring around the device body and at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of the at least four electrodes as partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the device body; and
insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other;
wherein the implantable stimulation device is configured and arranged for implantation near at least one neuron and for providing therapeutic electrical stimulation to the at least one neuron through the partitioned electrodes;
wherein the electrical circuitry and at least four electrodes are configured and arranged so that a current amplitude of each electrode is independently programmable such that two of the electrodes can be simultaneously driven as anodes with different current amplitudes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs). The methods and configurations described may, for instance, arrest action potentials traveling in one direction, arrest action potentials of small diameters nerve fibers, arrest action potentials of large diameter nerve fibers. These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and/or less targeted stimulation.
246 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable electrical stimulation device comprising:
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a device body; electrical circuitry disposed within the device body and configured and arranged to generate electrical stimulation; a power source disposed within the device body and coupled to the electrical circuitry; at least four electrodes disposed on a portion of the device body and coupled to the electrical circuitry for delivery of the electrical stimulation to tissue, wherein the device is configured and arranged so that each of the electrodes can be driven by the electrical circuitry as a cathode or an anode, wherein the at least four electrodes comprises at least one electrode formed as a ring around the device body and at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of the at least four electrodes as partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the device body; and insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other; wherein the implantable stimulation device is configured and arranged for implantation near at least one neuron and for providing therapeutic electrical stimulation to the at least one neuron through the partitioned electrodes; wherein the electrical circuitry and at least four electrodes are configured and arranged so that a current amplitude of each electrode is independently programmable such that two of the electrodes can be simultaneously driven as anodes with different current amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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9. An implantable electrical stimulation system comprising:
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a device body; electrical circuitry disposed within the device body and configured and arranged to generate electrical stimulation; a power source disposed within the device body and coupled to the electrical circuitry; an implantable lead forming part of the device body; at least four electrodes disposed on a portion of the lead and coupled to the electrical circuitry for delivery of the electrical stimulation to the tissue, wherein the lead is configured and arranged so that each of the electrodes can be driven by the electrical circuitry as a cathode or an anode, wherein the at least four electrodes comprises at least one electrode formed as a ring around the device body and at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of the at least four electrodes as partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead, wherein the partitioned electrodes are individually programmable; insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other; and an implantable microstimulator attached to the lead, the microstimulator containing circuitry to deliver current stimulus through the partitioned electrodes; wherein the implantable lead is configured and arranged for implantation near at least one neuron and for providing therapeutic electrical stimulation to the at least one neuron through the partitioned electrodes; wherein the electrical circuitry and at least four electrodes are configured and arranged so that a current amplitude of each electrode is independently programmable such that two of the electrodes can be simultaneously driven as anodes with different current amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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15. A method of stimulating tissue comprising:
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providing an implantable stimulation device comprising a device body;
electrical circuitry disposed within the device body and configured and arranged to generate therapeutic electrical stimulation;
a power source disposed within the device body and coupled to the electrical circuitry; and
a lead forming part of the device body and having at least four electrodes disposed on the lead, wherein the lead is configured and arranged so that each of the electrodes can be driven by the electrical circuitry as a cathode or an anode for delivery of the therapeutic electrical stimulation to tissue, wherein the at least four electrodes comprises at least one electrode formed as a ring around the device body and at least one set of independent partitioned electrodes, each set of independent partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of the at least four electrodes as partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead, wherein a current amplitude of each of the partitioned electrodes is individually programmable such that two of the partitioned electrodes can be simultaneously driven as anodes with different current amplitudes;programming stimulation parameters of the implantable stimulation device to activate different ones of the partitioned electrodes and program each activated partitioned electrode as a cathode, anode or an open circuit for controlling current flowing from each partitioned electrode that is activated, thereby steering an electric field generated by the activated partitioned electrodes; implanting the implantable stimulation device near at least one neuron; and providing the therapeutic electrical stimulation to the at least one neuron through the partitioned electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification