Systems and methods for detecting faults and/or adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
- applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a target neural population in a patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with the target neural population, wherein the electrical signal provides pain relief for a period of time that extends beyond a duration of the electrical signal;
automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device;
detecting a change in the impedance of the electrical circuit that indicates a fault;
automatically adjusting a compliance value in accordance with which the electrical signal is delivered; and
in response to detecting the change in the impedance automatically correcting or compensating for the fault before the patient senses a change in therapy resulting from the change in the impedance indicating the fault.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods for detecting impedance changes and for adjusting electrical therapy based on impedance changes are disclosed herein. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a patient via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with a target neural population of the patient. The method can include monitoring on a periodic basis an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device. The method can further include detecting a change in the impedance that indicates a fault and providing an indication that the fault exists.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a target neural population in a patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with the target neural population, wherein the electrical signal provides pain relief for a period of time that extends beyond a duration of the electrical signal; automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; detecting a change in the impedance of the electrical circuit that indicates a fault; automatically adjusting a compliance value in accordance with which the electrical signal is delivered; and in response to detecting the change in the impedance automatically correcting or compensating for the fault before the patient senses a change in therapy resulting from the change in the impedance indicating the fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling a patient therapy device, comprising:
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applying a therapeutic, paresthesia-less electrical signal to a target neural population in a patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via a patient modulation system that includes a signal delivery device in electrical communication with the target neural population, wherein the therapeutic electrical signal has a frequency in the range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz and provides pain relief for a period of time that extends beyond a duration of the electrical signal; automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, an impedance of an electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; detecting a change in the impedance of the electrical circuit that indicates a fault; in response to detecting the change in the impedance, automatically correcting the fault before the patient senses a change in therapy resulting from the change in the impedance indicating the fault, wherein automatically correcting the fault includes— adjusting a signal parameter of the therapeutic electrical signal from a first signal parameter value to a second signal parameter value that is greater than the first signal parameter value, and adjusting a compliance value from a first compliance value that is less than the second signal parameter value to a second compliance value that is greater than the second signal parameter value; and
automatically providing a notification of the fault.
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14. A patient therapy system, comprising:
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a patient-implantable portion that includes a signal generator and a signal delivery device having an electrical contact positioned to be in electrical communication with a target neural population in a patient'"'"'s spinal cord region when implanted, wherein the signal generator produces an electrical signal that provides pain relief for a period of time that extends beyond a duration of the electrical signal; an impedance detector carried by the patient-implantable portion, the impedance detector being operatively coupled to an electrical circuit that includes the electrical contact to detect an impedance of the electrical circuit; and a processor carried by the patient-implantable portion, the processor having a computer-readable medium programmed with instructions that, when executed, perform a process that includes; automatically monitoring, on a pre-set periodic basis, the impedance of the electrical circuit that includes the signal delivery device; receiving an indication from the impedance detector corresponding to a fault; and in response to receiving the indication of the fault and before the patient senses a change in therapy, automatically correcting the fault by adjusting a compliance value in accordance with which the signal generator produces the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25)
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24. The system of claim wherein 22, wherein the processor is configured to direct a signal providing notification of the fault to a location external to the patient.
Specification