Shifting between electrode combinations in electrical stimulation device
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- delivering electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination in first time slots;
delivering the electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination in second time slots interleaved in time with the first time slots;
incrementally decreasing a level of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the first electrode combination over a portion of the first time slots; and
maintaining a level of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the second electrode combination over a portion of the second time slots interleaved with the portion of the first time slots.
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Abstract
The disclosure is directed to techniques for shifting between two electrode combinations. An amplitude of a first electrode combination is incrementally decreased while an amplitude of a second, or subsequent, electrode combination is concurrently incrementally increased. Alternatively, an amplitude of the first electrode combination is maintained at a target amplitude level while the amplitude of the second electrode combination is incrementally increased. The stimulation pulses of the electrode combinations are delivered to the patient interleaved in time. In this manner, the invention provides for a smooth, gradual shift from a first electrode combination to a second electrode combination, allowing the patient to maintain a continual perception of stimulation. The shifting techniques described herein may be used during programming to shift between different electrode combinations to find an efficacious electrode combination. Additionally, the techniques may be used for shifting between different electrode combinations associated with different stimulation programs or program sets.
65 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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delivering electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination in first time slots; delivering the electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination in second time slots interleaved in time with the first time slots; incrementally decreasing a level of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the first electrode combination over a portion of the first time slots; and maintaining a level of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the second electrode combination over a portion of the second time slots interleaved with the portion of the first time slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A medical device comprising:
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means for delivering first electrical stimulation to a patient in first time slots; means for delivering second electrical stimulation to the patient in second time slots interleaved in time with the first time slots, the first electrical stimulation using a first electrode combination and the second electrical stimulation using a second electrode combination; means for incrementally decreasing a level of the first electrical stimulation delivered to the patient over a portion of the first time slots; and means for maintaining a level of the second electrical stimulation delivered to the patient over a portion of the second time slots interleaved with the portion of the first time slots. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A medical device comprising:
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an electrical stimulation generator configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via a first electrode combination in first time slots and deliver the electrical stimulation to the patient via a second electrode combination in second time slots interleaved in time with the first time slots; and a controller configured to incrementally decrease a level of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the first electrode combination over a portion of the first time slots and maintain a level of the electrical stimulation delivered to the patient via the second electrode combination over a portion of the second time slots interleaved with the portion of the first time slots. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification