Multi-location posture sensing

• US 20080281381A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin T., Rondoni, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,788,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 controlled by body position or posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration

Abstract

Techniques for controlling therapy delivery based on the relative orientation and/or motion of a device accelerometer and a lead accelerometer are described. In one embodiment, a therapy system includes an electrical stimulator and a lead. The electrical stimulator comprises a processor that controls delivery of a therapy to a target stimulation site in a patient and a device accelerometer coupled to the electrical stimulator. The lead is coupled to the electrical stimulator to deliver the therapy from the electrical stimulator to the target stimulation site in the patient, and includes a lead accelerometer. The processor compares signals from the accelerometers, and controls delivery of the therapy to the patient based on the comparison. In this manner, the processor may adjust stimulation to, for example, address movement of electrodes relative to target tissue when a patient changes postures.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an electrical stimulator comprising a device accelerometer;

a lead coupled to the electrical stimulator to deliver stimulation from the electrical stimulator to a target stimulation site in a patient, the lead comprising a lead accelerometer;

a processor that receives a first signal from the device accelerometer and a second signal from the lead accelerometer, compares the first and second signals, and controls delivery of the stimulation to the patient based on the comparison, wherein the comparison of the first and second signals is indicative of a posture or posture transition of the patient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines a relative orientation of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer based on the comparison of the first and second signals, and controls delivery of the stimulation based on the relative orientation, wherein the relative orientation of the device accelerometer and lead accelerometer is indicative of the posture or posture transition of the patient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines a relative motion of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer based on the comparison of the first and second signals, and controls delivery of the stimulation based on the relative motion, wherein the relative motion of the device accelerometer and lead accelerometer is indicative of the posture or posture transition of the patient.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein lead accelerometer is proximate to a distal end of the lead body.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulator comprises a housing, and the device accelerometer is located within the housing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the lead accelerometer is located within the lead.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the lead comprises a plurality of electrodes, and wherein controlling delivery of the therapy to the patient based on the relative orientation of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer comprises controlling which of the plurality of electrodes are selected to deliver the therapy based on the comparison of the first and second signals.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the lead accelerometer is located proximate to the electrodes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer comprises a multi-axis accelerometer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation comprises spinal cord stimulation.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulator is implantable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a processor of the electrical stimulator.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a value based on the comparison of the first and second signals, wherein controlling delivery of the therapy by the electrical stimulator comprises controlling delivery of the therapy according to a stimulation program previously associated with the value in a data structure.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the stimulation program is associated with the value during a programming session.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the stimulation program is associated with the value using a learning mode.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the stimulation program is associated with the value using a model.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a device accelerometer and a second signal from a lead accelerometer, wherein the device accelerometer is located on or within an electrical stimulator that delivers stimulation to a patient, and wherein the lead accelerometer is coupled to a lead that delivers the stimulation from the electrical stimulator to the target stimulation site of the patient;

comparing the first and second signals; and

controlling delivery of the stimulation by the electrical stimulator based on the comparison, wherein the comparison is indicative of a posture or posture transition of the patient.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a relative orientation of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer based on the comparison of the first and second signals, wherein controlling delivery of the stimulation comprises controlling delivery of the stimulation based on the relative orientation, wherein the relative orientation of the device accelerometer and lead accelerometer is indicative of the posture or posture transition of the patient.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a relative motion of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer based on the comparison of the first and second signals, wherein controlling delivery of the stimulation comprises controlling delivery of the stimulation based on the relative motion, wherein the relative motion of the device accelerometer and lead accelerometer is indicative of the posture or posture transition of the patient.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the lead comprises a plurality of electrodes, and wherein controlling delivery of the stimulation to the patient based on the comparison comprises controlling which of the plurality of electrodes are selected to deliver the therapy based on the comparison.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the lead accelerometer is located proximate to the electrodes.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer comprises a multi-axis accelerometer.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the stimulation comprises spinal cord stimulation.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein controlling delivery of the stimulation comprises controlling delivery of the stimulation substantially in real-time based on the signals received from the device accelerometer and the lead accelerometer.

25. A medical device comprising:

a therapy module to deliver stimulation to a patient via a lead;

a device accelerometer; and

a processor to receive a first signal from the device accelerometer and a second signal from a lead accelerometer on the lead, compare the first and second signals, and control delivery of the stimulation by the therapy module based on the comparison.