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 first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the first plurality of electrode nodes are each configured to connect to one of a first plurality of electrodes that contact a tissue of a patient; and
a first set of circuitry, comprising;
a first reference voltage,a first switch matrix coupled between the first reference voltage and the first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the first switch matrix is configured to select any of the first plurality of electrode nodes as a first active anode,a second reference voltage,a second switch matrix coupled between the second reference voltage and the first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the second switch matrix is configured to select any of the first plurality of electrode nodes as a first active cathode, anda first decoupling capacitor, wherein all first current paths between any first active anode and any first active cathode selectable from the first plurality of electrode nodes include a decoupling capacitor comprising only the first decoupling capacitor.
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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.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A stimulator device, comprising:
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a body for the device comprising a case; a first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the first plurality of electrode nodes are each configured to connect to one of a first plurality of electrodes that contact a tissue of a patient; and a first set of circuitry, comprising; a first reference voltage, a first switch matrix coupled between the first reference voltage and the first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the first switch matrix is configured to select any of the first plurality of electrode nodes as a first active anode, a second reference voltage, a second switch matrix coupled between the second reference voltage and the first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the second switch matrix is configured to select any of the first plurality of electrode nodes as a first active cathode, and a first decoupling capacitor, wherein all first current paths between any first active anode and any first active cathode selectable from the first plurality of electrode nodes include a decoupling capacitor comprising only the first decoupling capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A stimulator device, comprising:
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a body for the device comprising a case; a first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the first plurality of electrode nodes are each configured to connect to one of a first plurality of electrodes that contact a tissue of a patient; a first set of circuitry, comprising; a first reference voltage, a first switch matrix coupled between the first reference voltage and the first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the first switch matrix is configured to select any of the first plurality of electrode nodes as a first active anode, a second reference voltage, a second switch matrix coupled between the second reference voltage and the first plurality of electrode nodes, wherein the second switch matrix is configured to select any of the first plurality of electrode nodes as a first active cathode, and a first decoupling capacitor, wherein all first current paths between any first active anode and any first active cathode selectable from the first plurality of electrode nodes include a decoupling capacitor comprising only the first decoupling capacitor; and recovery circuitry for shunting both plates of the first decoupling capacitor to a common potential. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification