Current output architecture for an implantable stimulator device
First Claim
1. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:
- a plurality of electrode nodes for stimulating tissue;
a plurality of current source stages, each current source stage comprising;
a current source for sourcing a sourced output current, anda switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sourced output current and for directing the sourced output current to any of the plurality of electrode nodes; and
a plurality of current sink stages, each current sink stage comprising;
a current sink for sinking a sinked output current, anda switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sinked output current and for directing the sinked output current from any of the plurality of electrode nodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are current output architectures for implantable stimulator devices. Current source and sink circuitry is divided into a plurality of stages, each of which is capable via an associated switch bank of sourcing or sinking an amount of current to or from any one of the electrodes of the device. The current source circuitry is distinct from the current sink circuitry, and the two share no common circuit nodes prior to connection to the electrodes. In other words, the current source circuitry and the current sink circuitry do not share a common node other than the electrodes. Each stage is preferably formed of a current mirror for receiving a reference current and outputting a scaled version of current to that stage'"'"'s switch bank. The scalar at each stage can be set by wiring a desired number of output transistors in parallel. Preferably, the reference current to the current mirrors in the stages is controllable via a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), to globally control the overall magnitude of the current supply to the electrodes.
103 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:
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a plurality of electrode nodes for stimulating tissue; a plurality of current source stages, each current source stage comprising; a current source for sourcing a sourced output current, and a switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sourced output current and for directing the sourced output current to any of the plurality of electrode nodes; and a plurality of current sink stages, each current sink stage comprising; a current sink for sinking a sinked output current, and a switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sinked output current and for directing the sinked output current from any of the plurality of electrode nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:
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a plurality of electrode nodes for stimulating tissue; a source generator for producing a source reference current; a sink generator for producing a sink reference current; a plurality of current source stages, each current source stage comprising; a current source for converting the source reference current into an sourced output current representing a scaled version of the source reference current, and a switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sourced output current and for directing the sourced output current to any of the plurality of electrode nodes; and a plurality of current sink stages, each current sink stage comprising; a current sink for converting the sink reference current into a sinked output current representing a scaled version of the sink reference current, and a switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sinked output current and for directing the sinked output current from any of the plurality of electrode nodes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:
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a plurality of N electrode nodes for stimulating tissue; a plurality of L current source stages, each current source stage comprising; a current source for sourcing a sourced output current, and a switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sourced output current and for directing the sourced output current to any of the plurality of electrode nodes; and a plurality of L current sink stages, each current sink stage comprising; a current sink for sinking a sinked output current, and a switch bank, wherein each switch bank comprises a plurality of switches each connected directly to one of the electrode nodes for receiving the sinked output current and for directing the sinked output current from any of the plurality of electrode nodes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification