Automatic waveform output adjustment for an implantable medical device

• US 20030204226A1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Perz, Leroy L., Bright, Kevin L., Hester, Richard E., Juran, Carleen J., Acosta, Carlos C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,024,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components

Abstract

Apparatus and method assure the electrical characteristics of a stimulation waveform to an electrode of an Implantable Neuro Stimulator. The embodiment comprises a regulator, a measurement module, a generator, and a processor. The generator provides an input signal to the regulator. The regulator consequently regulates the input signal in order to form a pulse that is applied to the electrode. The processor instructs the measurement module to perform an electrical measurement that is indicative of an amplitude of the pulse. If the electrical measurement is sufficiently different from a desired value, the processor instructs the generator to be reconfigured in order that the amplitude of the pulse is within an acceptable value. A redundant capacitor pair may be inserted in a capacitor arrangement in order to compensate for a reduced battery voltage, or a detected faulty component such as a capacitor or a regulator may be replaced with a redundant component.

Claims

1. An apparatus for automatic waveform output adjustment with an implantable medical device, comprising in combination:

a first regulator module that adjusts an amplitude of a pulse to an electrode;

a measurement module that performs an electrical measurement that is associated with the first regulator module;

a generator connected to the first regulator module in order to provide an input signal to the first regulator module; and

a processor connected to the measurement module and to the generator, the processor configured to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving the electrical measurement, the electrical measurement indicative of the amplitude of the pulse;

(b) determining a differential value between the electrical measurement and a desired value;

(c) ascertaining whether the generator shall be reconfigured in order for the generator to deliver the input signal that corresponds to approximately the desired value; and

(d) instructing the generator in response to step (c).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical measurement corresponds to a voltage drop across the first regulator module.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical measurement corresponds to a voltage potential between an output of the first regulator module and a programmed input voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical measurement corresponds to a difference between a measured output and an expected output value of the first regulator module.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical measurement corresponds to a voltage of the input signal that is provided to the first regulator module by the generator, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the further step of:

(e) comparing the voltage of the input signal to a programmed input voltage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrical measurement corresponds to an output of the first regulator module, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the further step of:

(e) determining the desired value from a configuration of the generator, the generator comprising a capacitor arrangement.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

reconfiguring the generator in order that the generator delivers the input signal corresponding to approximately the desired value.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amplitude corresponds to a value of voltage.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the amplitude corresponds to a value of current.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generator comprises a capacitor arrangement, the capacitor arrangement comprising a plurality of capacitor pairs.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

(i) determining a faulty capacitor pair; and

(ii) determining a spare capacitor pair.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

instructing the generator to activate the spare capacitor pair.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein step (i) comprises the steps of:

(1) charging a capacitor of the capacitor arrangement to a known voltage;

(2) measuring a measured voltage across the capacitor; and

(3) comparing the measured voltage with the known voltage.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to perform the further step of:

repeating steps (1)-(3) for each capacitor of the capacitor arrangement.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a second regulator module, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the further steps of:

(e) comparing corresponding measurements of the first regulator module and the second regulator module; and

(f) replacing the first regulator module with the second regulator module in response to step (e).

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform the further step of:

(e) notifying a programming unit in response to step (c).

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein step (e) utilizes a telemetry channel.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regulator module comprises a voltage regulator.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the regulator module comprises a current regulator.

13. The apparatus of claim I1, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

instructing the generator to deactivate the faulty capacitor pair.

21. A method for automatic waveform output adjustment with an implantable medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving an electrical measurement, the electrical measurement indicative of an amplitude of a pulse;

(b) determining a differential value between the electrical measurement and a desired value;

(c) ascertaining whether a generator shall be reconfigured in order for the generator to deliver an input signal that corresponds to approximately the desired value; and

(d) instructing the generator in response to step (c).

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

reconfiguring the generator in order that the generator delivers the input signal corresponding to approximately the desired value.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

(i) determining a faulty capacitor pair; and

(ii) determining a spare capacitor pair.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

instructing the generator to activate the spare capacitor pair.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein step (d) comprises the step of:

instructing the generator to deactivate the faulty capacitor pair.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein step (i) comprises the steps of:

(1) charging a capacitor of a capacitor arrangement to a known voltage;

(2) measuring a measured voltage across the capacitor; and

(3) comparing the measured voltage with the known voltage.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

repeating steps (1)-(3) for each capacitor of the capacitor arrangement.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

(e) notifying a programming unit in response to step (c).

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

(e) instructing the implantable medical device to shutdown.

30. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for automatically adjusting a neurological stimulation waveform output with an implantable medical device, comprising instructions that cause the implantable medical device to perform the steps of:

(a) receiving an electrical measurement, the electrical measurement indicative of an amplitude of a pulse;

(b) determining a differential value between the electrical measurement and a desired value;

(c) ascertaining whether a generator shall be reconfigured in order for the generator to deliver an input signal that corresponds to approximately the desired value; and

(d) instructing the generator in response to step (c).

31. An implantable medical device, comprising in combination:

a telemetry module;

a therapy module that provides a neurological stimulation waveform to a patient, the therapy module comprising;

a regulator module that adjusts an amplitude of a pulse, the pulse associated with the neurological stimulation waveform, and

a generator coupled to the regulator module in order to provide an input signal to the regulator module, the generator comprising a capacitor arrangement;

a measurement module coupled to the regulator module in order to measure a voltage drop across the regulator module; and

a processor connected to the measurement module and to the generator, the processor configured to perform the steps of;

(a) receiving a measurement, the measurement corresponding to the voltage drop across the regulator module;

(b) determining a differential value between the measurement and a desired value;

(c) ascertaining whether the generator shall be reconfigured in order for the generator to deliver the input signal corresponding to approximately the desired value;

(d) determining a faulty capacitor pair;

(e) determining a spare capacitor pair; and

(f) instructing the generator to activate the spare capacitor pair in response to step (d).