Implantable pulse generator having current steering means

• US 7,555,346 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Woods, Carla Mann, Meadows, Paul M., Loeb, Gerald E., Peterson, David K. L
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gedeon; Brian T
• Application Number:
  US11/158,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/60, 607/68
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• 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 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

An implantable pulse generator includes a current steering capability that allows a clinician or patient to quickly determine a desired electrode stimulation pattern, including which electrodes of a group of electrodes within an electrode array should receive a stimulation current, including the amplitude, width and pulse repetition rate of such current. Movement of the selected group of electrodes is facilitated through the use of remotely generated directional signals, generated by a pointing device, such as a joystick. As movement of the selected group of electrodes occurs, current redistribution amongst the various electrode contacts takes place. The redistribution of stimulus amplitudes utilizes re-normalization of amplitudes so that the perceptual level remains fairly constant. This prevents the resulting paresthesia from falling below the perceptual threshold or above the comfort threshold.

Claims

1. A programmer for an implantable pulse generator coupled to an array of electrodes, comprising:

a user-controlled input device configured for generating directional control signals, wherein the user-controlled input device comprises one or more of a joystick, a button pad, a group of keyboard arrow keys, a touch screen, a mouse, a roller ball tracking device, and horizontal and vertical rocker-type arm switches;

a processor configured for shifting stimulus current values between the electrodes in response to the control signals;

control circuitry configured for generating programming signals containing the stimulus current values; and

a transmitter configured for transmitting the programming signals to the implantable pulse generator.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the user-controlled input device, processor, control circuitry, and transmitter are contained within a hand-held portable device.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the array of electrodes includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes, and wherein the processor is configured for gradually shifting the stimulus current values from the first electrode group to the second electrode group in response to the control signals.

5. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for gradually shifting the stimulus current values between cathodic ones of the electrodes and/or gradually shifting the stimulus current values between anodic ones of the electrodes in response to the control signals.

6. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the array of electrodes is a one-dimensional array of electrodes, and the processor is configured for shifting the stimulus current values up and down in the one-dimensional electrode array in response to the control signals.

7. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the array of electrodes is a two-dimensional array of electrodes, and the processor is configured for shifting the stimulus current values up, down, left, and right in the two-dimensional electrode array in response to the control signals.

8. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for shifting the stimulus current values up, down, left and right in the electrode array in response to the control signals.

9. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising a monitor for displaying a representation of the stimulus current values.

10. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured for continually shifting stimulus current values between the electrodes in a direction specified by the control signals in response to a single actuation of the user-controlled input device.

11. A tissue stimulation system, comprising:

an external programmer configured for transmitting programming signals in response to a directional user input, wherein the external programmer includes a user-controlled input device comprising one or more of a joystick, a button pad, a group of keyboard arrow keys, a touch screen, a mouse, a roller ball tracking device, and horizontal and vertical rocker-type arm switches;

an implantable array of electrodes;

an implantable pulse generator configured for steering current-controlled stimulation energy between the electrodes in response to the programming signals.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the external programmer is configured for wirelessly transmitting the programming signals to the implantable pulse generator.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the external programmer is a hand-held device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the external programmer is a laptop computer.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the array of electrodes includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes, and wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for gradually steering the current-controlled stimulation energy from the first electrode group to the second electrode group in response to the programming signals.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for gradually steering the current-controlled stimulation energy between cathodic ones of the electrodes and/or gradually steering the current-controlled stimulation energy between anodic ones of the electrodes in response to the programming signals.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the array of electrodes is a one-dimensional array of electrodes, and the implantable pulse generator is configured for shifting current-controlled stimulation energy up and down in the one-dimensional electrode array in response to the programming signals.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the array of electrodes is a two-dimensional array of electrodes, and the implantable pulse generator is configured for shifting the current-controlled stimulation energy up, down, left, and right in the two-dimensional electrode array in response to the programming signals.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for shifting the current-controlled stimulation energy up, down, left and right in the electrode array in response to the programming signals.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the external programmer is configured for displaying a representation of a current distribution within the electrodes.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for continually steering current-controlled stimulation energy between the electrodes in a direction specified by the programming signals in response to a single user input.

22. A programmer for an implantable pulse generator coupled to an array of electrodes, comprising:

a user-controlled input device configured for generating left, right, up, and down directional control signals;

a processor configured for shifting stimulus current values between the electrodes in response to the control signals;

control circuitry configured for generating programming signals containing the stimulus current values; and

a transmitter configured for transmitting the programming signals to the implantable pulse generator.

23. The programmer of claim 22, wherein the array of electrodes includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes, and wherein the processor is configured for gradually shifting the stimulus current values from the first electrode group to the second electrode group in response to the control signals.

24. The programmer of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured for gradually shifting the stimulus current values between cathodic ones of the electrodes and/or gradually shifting the stimulus current values between anodic ones of the electrodes in response to the control signals.

25. The programmer of claim 22, wherein the processor is configured for continually shifting stimulus current values between the electrodes in a direction specified by the control signals in response to a single actuation of the user-controlled input device.

26. A tissue stimulation system, comprising:

an external programmer configured for transmitting programming signals in response to a directional left, right, up, and down user input;

an implantable array of electrodes;

an implantable pulse generator configured for steering current-controlled stimulation energy between the electrodes in response to the programming signals.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the array of electrodes includes a first group of electrodes and a second group of electrodes, and wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for gradually steering the current-controlled stimulation energy from the first electrode group to the second electrode group in response to the programming signals.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for gradually steering the current-controlled stimulation energy between cathodic ones of the electrodes and/or gradually steering the current-controlled stimulation energy between anodic ones of the electrodes in response to the programming signals.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for continually steering current-controlled stimulation energy between the electrodes in a direction specified by the programming signals in response to a single user input.