Tissue stimulation method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a lead having a longitudinal axis, the lead configured to be inserted in a tissue in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a plurality of electrodes carried on a portion of the lead and disposed about the longitudinal axis in a two-dimensional array on the portion of the lead, each electrode having an n-fold rotational symmetry, n being an integer greater than or equal to three, wherein the portion of the lead on which the plurality of electrodes are carried has a substantially constant width along the longitudinal axis, andwherein a field generated by delivery of electrical stimulation via the electrodes is steerable in three dimensions.
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Abstract
A stimulation apparatus includes a stimulation lead (102), a multiplexer (114), a stimulation signal generator (116), and a signal detector (120). The stimulation lead (102) includes a plurality of stimulation electrodes (112) disposed in an array about a distal portion of the lead body (110). The arrangement of the electrodes (112) facilitates the controlled steering of stimulating electrical field (118) in three dimensions. Four dimensional field steering may also be provided.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a lead having a longitudinal axis, the lead configured to be inserted in a tissue in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of electrodes carried on a portion of the lead and disposed about the longitudinal axis in a two-dimensional array on the portion of the lead, each electrode having an n-fold rotational symmetry, n being an integer greater than or equal to three, wherein the portion of the lead on which the plurality of electrodes are carried has a substantially constant width along the longitudinal axis, and wherein a field generated by delivery of electrical stimulation via the electrodes is steerable in three dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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8. A method comprising:
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applying an electrical stimulus to a first stimulating electrode of a plurality of electrodes of a lead implanted in tissue to generate an electric field, wherein the plurality of electrodes are carried on a portion of the lead and disposed angularly about a longitudinal axis of the lead, each electrode having an n-fold rotational symmetry, n being an integer greater than or equal to three, wherein the portion of the lead on which the plurality of electrodes are carried has a substantially constant width along the longitudinal axis; and varying the electrical stimulus applied to at least first and second shielding electrodes to vary a distribution of the electric field in three spatial dimensions. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a lead having a longitudinal axis, wherein the lead includes a substantially rotationally symmetric exterior cross section; and a plurality of electrodes carried on a portion of the lead and disposed about the longitudinal axis in a two-dimensional close-packed array on the portion of the lead, each electrode having an n-fold rotational symmetry, n being an integer greater than or equal to three, wherein the portion of the lead on which the plurality of electrodes are carried has a substantially constant width along the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 41, 42)
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Specification