Magnitude programming for implantable electrical stimulator

• US 6,731,986 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics Corporation (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: Mann, Carla M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Tu Ba
• Application Number:
  US10/444,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 600/378, 600/544, 607/29, 607/30, 607/45, 607/46, 607/9, 607/57-59, 607/62, 607/99, 607/2
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36164 Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37241 providing test stimulations

Abstract

A neural stimulation system allows the magnitude of electrical stimuli generated by the system to be programmed to a desired level greater than or equal to a minimum perceived threshold and less than or equal to a maximum tolerable perceived threshold. The electrical stimuli are applied through selected groupings of individual electrode contacts of a multi-electrode-contact electrode array attached to pulse generation circuitry as either cathodes or anodes. The electrode array is implanted so that the individual electrode contacts are in contact with the body tissue to be stimulated. Stimulating electrical current pulses, defined by a prescribed set of stimulus parameters are generated and applied to the selected electrode contacts so as to flow from the anode electrodes to the cathode electrodes. The perceived magnitude of the applied stimuli is equalized in order to enable quick, automated, and/or interactive programming of the values of the stimulation parameters.

Claims

1. An implantable pulse generator, comprising:

a hermetically sealed case wherein a pulse generation circuit is housed, said pulse generation circuit being adapted to generate a stimulus pulse in accordance with programmed stimulus parameters;

an electrode array external to the sealed case, said electrode array having a multiplicity of electrode contacts, wherein each of the multiplicity of electrode contacts is selectively connected to the pulse generation circuit within the hermetically sealed case;

wherein a minimum perception threshold and a maximum tolerable threshold for each of the multiplicity of electrode contacts is known or determinable; and

equalizer means for equalizing the minimum perception threshold and the maximum tolerable threshold to unit-less magnitude levels; and

wherein the pulse generation circuitry, upon command, automatically adjusts the magnitude of the stimulus pulse applied through a selected combination of the multiplicity of electrode contacts to a level referenced to the unit-less magnitude levels.

2. The implantable pulse generator of claim 1 wherein the equalizer means comprises:

memory circuitry wherein the minimum perception threshold and the maximum tolerable threshold are stored;

a mapping circuit that maps the perception threshold of each electrode contact to a first number magnitude level and that maps the maximum tolerable threshold to a second number magnitude level, wherein when a stimulus pulse having the first number magnitude level is selected to be applied to a selected combination of electrode contacts, the selected combination of electrode contacts receives a stimulus pulse having a magnitude equal to or near the perception threshold, and wherein when a stimulus pulse having the second number magnitude level is selected to be applied to a selected combination of electrode contacts, the selected combination of electrode contacts receives a stimulus pulse having a magnitude equal to or near the maximum tolerable threshold.

3. The implantable pulse generator of claim 2 wherein the first number magnitude level comprises a low number, and the second number magnitude level comprises a high number, and further wherein a plurality of levels exist greater than the low number and less than the high number, and wherein the implantable pulse generator generates a stimulus having a magnitude greater than the minimum perception threshold and less than the maximum tolerable threshold when one of the levels between the low and high numbers is selected as the magnitude level of the stimulus to be applied to a selected combination of electrodes.

4. The implantable pulse generator of claim 3 wherein the low number comprises the level “

1”

, and the high number comprises the level “

5”

, and further wherein any one of the levels “

1”

through “

5”

is selected as the magnitude level of the stimulus pulse applied through a selected combination of electrode contacts; and

wherein when one of the levels “

1”

through “

5”

is selected as the magnitude level of the stimulus pulse applied through a selected combination of electrode contacts, then the implantable pulse generator generates a stimulus pulse having a magnitude greater than the minimum perception threshold and less than the maximum tolerable threshold.

5. The implantable pulse generator of claim 3 wherein the low number comprises the level “

1”

, and the high number comprises the level “

10”

, and further wherein any one of the levels “

1”

through “

10”

is selected as the magnitude level of the stimulus pulse applied through a selected combination of electrode contacts; and

wherein when one of the levels “

1”

through “

10”

is selected as the magnitude level of the stimulus pulse applied through a selected combination of electrode contacts, then the implantable pulse generator generates a stimulus pulse having a magnitude greater than the minimum perception threshold and less than the maximum tolerable threshold.