Implantable microstimulators with programmable multielectrode configuration and uses thereof
First Claim
1. A method of electronically positioning a microstimulator implanted within a patient, the microstimulator having an elongate casing, a power source contained in the elongate casing, and programmably configurable electrodes disposed on an exterior surface of the elongate casing, at least some of the electrodes being partitioned into separately activated electrodes located at different positions along an arc extending along an outer extent of the elongate casing, the method comprising:
- directing electrical stimulation from a subset of the programmably configurable electrodes into a volume of tissue;
allowing the microstimulator to rotate within the patient about a long axis of the microstimulator;
reprogramming the programmably configurable electrodes to select a different subset of the programmably configurable electrodes to compensate for the rotation of the microstimulator within the patient; and
directing electrical stimulation from the different subset of the programmably configurable electrodes into the volume of tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) with programmably configurable electrodes allow, among other things, steering of the electric fields created. In addition, the microstimulators are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs).
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of electronically positioning a microstimulator implanted within a patient, the microstimulator having an elongate casing, a power source contained in the elongate casing, and programmably configurable electrodes disposed on an exterior surface of the elongate casing, at least some of the electrodes being partitioned into separately activated electrodes located at different positions along an arc extending along an outer extent of the elongate casing, the method comprising:
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directing electrical stimulation from a subset of the programmably configurable electrodes into a volume of tissue; allowing the microstimulator to rotate within the patient about a long axis of the microstimulator; reprogramming the programmably configurable electrodes to select a different subset of the programmably configurable electrodes to compensate for the rotation of the microstimulator within the patient; and directing electrical stimulation from the different subset of the programmably configurable electrodes into the volume of tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification