High frequency neuromodulation system and method for reducing energy requirements

• US 9,403,015 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Hershey, Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): DIETRICH, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US13/930,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20140005752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 607/61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36196 Frequency modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

An electrical neuromodulation system and method of treating an ailment of a patient using a neuromodulation device. Electrical modulation energy is delivered at a first frequency from the neuromodulation device to a first set of electrodes having a first combined electrode impedance. A second set of electrodes having a second combined electrode impedance less than the first combined electrode impedance is automatically selected. The electrical modulation energy is delivered at a second frequency to the second set of electrodes, wherein the second frequency is greater than the first frequency.

Claims

1. An electrical neuromodulation system, comprising:

a neuromodulation device configured to deliver electrical energy at a first frequency to a first set of electrodes having a first combined electrode impedance and deliver the electrical energy at a second frequency greater than the first frequency to a second set of electrodes having a second combined electrode impedance less than the first combined electrode impedance; and

control/processing circuitry configured to;

instruct the neuromodulation device to deliver the electrical energy at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes;

receive a signal to switch from delivering electrical energy at the first frequency to delivering electrical energy at the second frequency; and

responsive to the signal automatically instruct the neuromodulation device to deliver the electrical energy at the second frequency to the second set of electrodes instead of at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes.

2. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a value corresponding to the second frequency, wherein the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically instruct the neuromodulation device to stop delivering electrical energy at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes and to deliver the electrical energy at the second frequency to the second set of electrodes in response to the user entry of the value.

3. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is less than 1 KHz and the second frequency is equal to or greater than 1 KHz.

4. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency is in the range of 2 Hz-250 Hz, and the second frequency is in the range of 1 KHz-50 KHz.

5. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, wherein the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically add at least one electrode to the first set of electrodes without subtracting any electrode from the first set of electrodes to provide the second set of electrodes.

6. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, wherein the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically replace an electrode of the first set of electrodes with another electrode having an individual electrode impedance that is lower than an individual electrode impedance of the replaced electrode to provide the second set of electrodes.

7. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, further comprising the electrodes.

8. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 7, further comprising a cuff lead carrying the electrodes.

9. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 7, further comprising a surgical paddle lead carrying the electrodes.

10. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 7, further comprising a coating disposed on the electrodes that increases the capacitances of the electrodes.

11. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, wherein the control/processing circuitry are contained in the neuromodulation device.

12. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, wherein the control/processing circuitry are contained in an external control device.

13. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured for storing power used to generate the electrical energy.

14. An electrical neuromodulation system, comprising:

a neuromodulation device configured to deliver electrical energy at a first frequency to a first set of electrodes having a first combined electrode impedance and deliver the electrical energy at a second frequency greater than the first frequency to a second set of electrodes having a second combined electrode impedance less than the first combined electrode impedance; and

control/processing circuitry configured to;

instruct the neuromodulation device to deliver the electrical energy at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes;

receive a signal to switch from delivering electrical energy at the first frequency to delivering electrical energy at the second frequency; and

responsive to the signal automatically instruct the neuromodulation device to deliver the electrical energy at the second frequency to the second set of electrodes instead of at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes,

wherein the first frequency is less than 1 KHz and the second frequency is equal to or greater than 1 KHz, and the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically add at least one electrode to the first set of electrodes without subtracting any electrode from the first set of electrodes to provide the second set of electrodes.

15. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 14, further comprising a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a value corresponding to the second frequency, wherein the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically instruct the neuromodulation device to stop delivering electrical energy at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes and to deliver the electrical energy at the second frequency to the second set of electrodes in response to the user entry of the value.

16. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 14, wherein the first frequency is in the range of 2 Hz-250 Hz, and the second frequency is in the range of 1 KHz-50 KHz.

17. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 14, wherein the control/processing circuitry are contained in the neuromodulation device.

18. An electrical neuromodulation system, comprising:

a neuromodulation device configured to deliver electrical energy at a first frequency to a first set of electrodes having a first combined electrode impedance and deliver the electrical energy at a second frequency greater than the first frequency to a second set of electrodes having a second combined electrode impedance less than the first combined electrode impedance; and

control/processing circuitry configured to;

instruct the neuromodulation device to deliver the electrical energy at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes;

receive a signal to switch from delivering electrical energy at the first frequency to delivering electrical energy at the second frequency; and

responsive to the signal automatically instruct the neuromodulation device to deliver the electrical energy at the second frequency to the second set of electrodes instead of at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes,

wherein the first frequency is less than 1 KHz and the second frequency is equal to or greater than 1 KHz, and the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically replace an electrode of the first set of electrodes with another electrode having an individual electrode impedance that is lower than an individual electrode impedance of the replaced electrode to provide the second set of electrodes.

19. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 18, wherein the first frequency is in the range of 2 Hz-250 Hz, and the second frequency is in the range of 1 KHz-50 KHz.

20. The electrical neuromodulation system of claim 18, further comprising a user interface configured for allowing a user to enter a value corresponding to the second frequency, wherein the control/processing circuitry is configured to automatically instruct the neuromodulation device to stop delivering electrical energy at the first frequency to the first set of electrodes and to deliver the electrical energy at the second frequency to the second set of electrodes in response to the user entry of the value.