Field augmented current steering using voltage sources
First Claim
1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:
- at least one lead to provide an array of electrodes;
a plurality of electrical terminals configured to be electrically connected to the array of electrodes via the at least one lead;
at least three configurable sources respectively coupled to at least three of the electrical terminals, each of the configurable sources including a current source and a voltage source and each of the configurable sources being capable of being programmed to operate as the current source and being capable of being programmed to operate as the voltage source; and
control circuitry configured for programming each of the at least three configurable sources to be either the current source or the voltage source, wherein the control circuitry is configured to;
program at least one of the configurable sources to operate as the current source and to connect the current source to at least one electrode in the array of electrodes to generate a current distribution in neural tissue; and
program at least one other of the configurable sources to operate as the voltage source and to connect the voltage source to at least one other electrode in the array of electrodes to shape the current distribution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neurostimulation comprises a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to an array of electrodes, at least three configurable sources respectively coupled to at least three of the electrical terminals, and control circuitry configured for programming each of the at least three configurable sources to be either a current source or a voltage source. A method of providing neurostimulation therapy to a patient using an array of electrodes implanted adjacent neural tissue of the patient, comprises conveying electrical stimulation energy between a first one the electrodes and a second one of the electrodes, thereby creating an electrical field potential within the neural tissue, regulating a first current flowing through the first electrode, and regulating a first voltage at a third different one of the electrodes, thereby modifying a shape of the electrical field potential within the neural tissue.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:
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at least one lead to provide an array of electrodes; a plurality of electrical terminals configured to be electrically connected to the array of electrodes via the at least one lead; at least three configurable sources respectively coupled to at least three of the electrical terminals, each of the configurable sources including a current source and a voltage source and each of the configurable sources being capable of being programmed to operate as the current source and being capable of being programmed to operate as the voltage source; and control circuitry configured for programming each of the at least three configurable sources to be either the current source or the voltage source, wherein the control circuitry is configured to; program at least one of the configurable sources to operate as the current source and to connect the current source to at least one electrode in the array of electrodes to generate a current distribution in neural tissue; and program at least one other of the configurable sources to operate as the voltage source and to connect the voltage source to at least one other electrode in the array of electrodes to shape the current distribution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of providing neurostimulation therapy to a patient using at least three configurable sources respectively coupled to at least three electrical terminals and using at least one lead to provide an array of electrodes adjacent neural tissue of the patient, wherein each of the configurable sources includes a current source and a voltage source and each of the configurable sources being capable of being programmed to operate as the current source and being capable of being programmed to operate as the voltage source, and wherein the array of electrodes includes at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, the method comprising:
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conveying electrical stimulation energy, using a configurable sources programmed to operate as current sources, between the first electrode and the second electrode to generate a current distribution in the neural tissue including regulating a first current flowing through the first electrode; and regulating a first voltage at the third electrode to modify a shape of the current distribution. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification