MULTI-ELECTRODE STIMULATION THERAPY WITH REDUCED ENERGY

Abstract

A device for neurostimulation has a number N of electrodes. N is equal to or larger than 3. The device is configured to deliver via each electrode therapeutic electric phases of amplitudes I.sub.1, I.sub.2, . . . I.sub.N, with a frequency f and after each therapeutic electric phase a number of N−1 charge balancing electric phases. The charge balancing electric phases of the respective electrode each have a polarity that is opposite the polarity of the preceding therapeutic electric phase of the respective electrode. The device is configured to return for each electrode the current of each therapeutic electric phase in the other N−1 electrodes.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device for delivering neurostimulation, comprising: a pulse generator including an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC); a number N of electrodes, wherein N is equal to or larger than 3; and said ASIC configured to deliver, via each electrode of the N electrodes of the implantable medical device, a set of pulses including a therapeutic electric pulse and a number of N−1 charge balancing electric pulses, wherein the charge balancing electric pulses of the electrode each have a polarity being opposite to a polarity of the therapeutic electric pulse of the electrode, wherein a current of the therapeutic electric pulse is equal to a sum of currents of the charge balancing electric pulses.

2. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to deliver the therapeutic electric pulse to a first of the N electrodes and to deliver a charge balancing electric pulse in all the other N−1 electrodes at a time of delivery of the therapeutic electric pulse in the first of the N electrodes.

3. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generator is configured to deliver the therapeutic electric pulse with a current amplitude of I, and wherein the charge balancing electric pulses are delivered with a current amplitude of I/(N−1).

4. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generator is configured to deliver the charge balancing electric pulses with varied current amplitudes.

5. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generator is configured to deliver the therapeutic electric pulse and the charge balancing electric pulses such that an integrated average charge delivered by the therapeutic electric pulse and the charge balancing electric pulses is zero over time.

6. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generator is configured to deliver the therapeutic electric pulse such that a time interval between any two successive said therapeutic electric pulses from different electrodes is 1/Nf, where N is the number of said electrodes and f is the frequency of the set of pulses.

7. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generator is configured to deliver the therapeutic electric pulse and the charge balancing electric pulses such that the therapeutic electric pulse and the charge balancing electric pulses are separated by inter-pulse intervals.

8. The implantable device according to claim 7, wherein said pulse generator is configured to deliver a passive-balance charge via the N electrodes during at least one of the inter-pulse intervals.

9. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to deliver the neurostimulation in a form of spinal cord stimulation.

10. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein an amplitude I of the therapeutic electric pulse lies within a range from 0.1 mA to 20.0 mA.

11. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device provides at least one parameter configuration for the neurostimulation, wherein the parameter configuration is stored in the device.

12. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device provides at least one parameter configuration for spinal cord stimulation, wherein the parameter configuration is stored in the implantable medical device.

13. The implantable medical device according to claim 1, wherein said ASIC is configured to perform a biphasic stimulation of a respective electrode of the plurality of N electrodes by at least one of: configuring a programmable voltage V.sub.IStim to provide a sourcing current through the respective electrode; and/or configuring a programmable voltage V.sub.NCounter to control a sinking current through the respective electrode; and/or configuring a first switchable element to selectively connect the respective electrode to the programmable voltage V.sub.IStim; and/or configuring a second switchable element to selectively connect the respective electrode to the programmable voltage V.sub.NCounter; and/or configuring a third switchable element to selectively connect a mid-voltage reference V.sub.Mid to the respective electrode for passive charge balancing; and/or controlling said sourcing current and said sinking current being independently at each electrode of the plurality of N electrodes to permit delivering simultaneous multi-electrode therapy with active charge balancing.

14. A method for delivering neurostimulation using a number N of electrodes of an implantable medical device, wherein N is equal to or larger than 3, which comprises the step of: using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) of the implantable medical device to deliver via each electrode, a set of pulses including a therapeutic electric pulse and a number of N−1 charge balancing electric pulses, the charge balancing electric pulses of the electrode each have a polarity that is opposite a polarity of a preceding therapeutic electric pulse of the electrode, and wherein for each said electrode a current of each therapeutic electric pulse is returned in the other N−1 electrodes.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein for the therapeutic electric pulse of each of the N electrodes, a charge balancing electric pulse in all the other N−1 electrodes is delivered at a time of a delivery of the therapeutic electric pulse.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the charge balancing electric pulses have an amplitude of I/(N−1).

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the charge balancing electric pulses have variable amplitudes.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein an additional passive balance pulse is delivered in at least one inter-pulse interval.

19. The method according to claim 14, which further comprises delivering the therapeutic electric pulses and the charge balancing electric pulses such that an integrated average charge delivered by the therapeutic electric pulses and the charge balancing electric pulses is zero over time.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the ASIC delivers the set of pulses by at least one of: configuring a programmable voltage V.sub.IStim to provide a sourcing current through the respective electrode; and/or configuring a programmable voltage V.sub.NCounter to control a sinking current through the respective electrode; and/or configuring a first switchable element to selectively connect the respective electrode to the programmable voltage V.sub.IStim; and/or configuring a second switchable element to selectively connect the respective electrode to the programmable voltage V.sub.NCounter; and/or configuring a third switchable element to selectively connect a mid-voltage reference V.sub.Mid to the respective electrode for passive charge balancing; and/or controlling said sourcing current and said sinking current being independently at each electrode of the plurality of N electrodes to permit delivering simultaneous multi-electrode therapy with active charge balancing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0054] FIG. 1 is an illustration showing a SCS implantable system/device;

[0055] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an implantable pulse generator (IPG) front-end for SCS;

[0056] FIG. 3 is an illustration showing an example of positioned electrodes for therapy delivery, using the novel stimulation waveform, for chronic low and leg pain;

[0057] FIG. 4 is an illustration showing an example of electrode drive to implement novel waveform shown in FIG. 8 on four (4) electrode contacts;

[0058] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a low-frequency (paresthesia-based) stimulation waveform between two (2) electrodes as known from the prior art;

[0059] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a high-frequency (paresthesia-free) stimulation waveform between two (2) electrodes as known from the prior art;

[0060] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between three (3) electrodes, with cathodic preference;

[0061] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between four (4) electrodes, with cathodic preference;

[0062] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between four (4) electrodes, with anodic preference;

[0063] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between three (3) electrodes, with cathodic preference;

[0064] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between three (3) electrodes, with cathodic preference; and

[0065] FIG. 12 is an illustration showing a lead arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention where therapy is delivered using a single lead.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0066] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown an example of an implantable system/device 100 for spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Such a system/device includes first and second implantable percutaneous leads 101.a and 101.b that are implanted into a targeted location in the epidural space. Such leads 101 may be replaced by a paddle lead or other type of SCS leads.

[0067] The distal portion of the leads 101.a and 101.b incorporate a plurality of electrodes 102.a and 102.b respectively. Octal leads 101 (eight electrodes each) are shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 1. Each electrode 102 is connected to an insulated wire (not shown), which wires run inside flexible insulated carriers 103.a and 103.b. These carriers 103 get tunnelled during implantation to the vicinity of the implantable pulse generator (IPG) 104 that is typically implanted subcutaneously in the patient's lower abdominal or gluteal region. Carriers 103.a and 103.b terminate proximally in connectors 105.a and 105.b respectively that are then inserted into the IPG 104 header to allow conducting electrical charge to electrodes 102.

[0068] The IPG 104 can communicate with external devices 106 through suitable radio frequency (RF, e.g. MICS-band) or inductive links 107 that pass through the patient's skin 108. The external devices 106 may include a clinician programmer, a patient remote control, or an external charger among others. An external charger will send power transcutaneously though an inductive link 107 for battery recharge given the IPG 104 is preferably powered by a secondary battery.

[0069] The electrodes 102 are electrically driven by a front-end 300 (in the IPG 104), which is shown in FIG. 2. Component C.sub.i represents the DC blocking capacitor in series with each of the electrodes i (102) traditionally employed to deliver electrical stimulation.

[0070] Resistors 301 in FIG. 2 are bleeding resistors (hundreds of kΩ), placed in star configuration, typically utilized in IPG's front-end 300 for passive charge neutrality. Capacitors 302, also in star configuration, provide filtering against electromagnetic interference (transitory voltage suppression protections, such as against external defibrillation pulses and electrostatic discharges, are not shown for simplicity). The common mode of both resistors 301 and capacitors 302 star configurations are connected to the conductive area 303 of the IPG 104 case.

[0071] An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 304 provides five controllable elements for biphasic stimulation where only one (1) may be active at any time when the respective electrode 102 is utilized for therapy delivery. Current F.sub.Pi permits sourcing current through an electrode i (102) from the programmable voltage V.sub.IStim whereas current F.sub.Ni permits sinking current to a programmable voltage V.sub.NCounter, which may be system ground Vss, as desired. Having sourcing and sinking currents independently controllable at each electrode i (102) permits delivering simultaneous multi-electrode SCS therapy with active charge balancing. Analog switches 305, 306 permit connecting an electrode i (102) to either V.sub.IStim or V.sub.NCounter respectively when currents of only one type are to be applied. Analog switches 307, referenced to a mid-voltage V.sub.Mid, permit passive charge balancing. Voltage V.sub.Mid may be any voltage between V.sub.IStim and Vss including them. Resistors 310 may be added to limit the current in the presence of externally-generated fields (e.g. defibrillation).

[0072] In the following, a preferred stimulation (for therapy) approach based on the novel stimulation waveform of the present invention, as presented in FIG. 8, e.g. for the treatment of chronic back and leg pain is described. Such therapy utilizes four (N=4) electrodes 102, namely 800, 801, 802, and 803 as shown in FIG. 3. Leads 101.a and 101.b are implanted and positioned so electrodes 102 in the thoracic region are utilized for therapy (i.e. electrodes 800-803).

[0073] According to an alternative embodiment of the stimulation approach, a single lead 101.a is utilized to deliver the novel stimulation waveform of the present invention.

[0074] The first therapeutic phase (therapeutic electric pulse) of the novel stimulation waveform, in the example, is that of electrode 800. To implement it, the elements I.sub.Pi (see FIG. 2) of electrodes 801-803 are programmed to the desired amplitude I divided by 3 (equal to I/(N−1)). Electrode 800 is connected to element V.sub.NCounter (see FIG. 2) in such phase so the total current I provides cathodic stimulation at electrode 800. The other therapeutic phases for electrodes 801-803 are shown in FIG. 4 and can be described in a similar way.

[0075] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the therapy is delivered using a single lead 101.a. FIG. 12 shows the preferred electrodes 102, namely electrodes 800, 801, 802, and 803 arrangement, and the different therapeutic phases (therapeutic electric pulse) starting from electrode 800, moving to electrode 803 and repeating. Adjacent electrodes 102 on the same lead 101.a are shown for simplicity but electrodes 800, 801, 802, and 803 are not required to be adjacent. Similar arrangements can be conceived using paddle leads.

[0076] The preferred passive balance, in at least one (1) of the inter-phase intervals, is performed by closing switches 307 (see FIG. 2) for the participating electrodes 800-803. This avoids voltage runaway in the DC blocking capacitors C.sub.i of the mentioned electrodes that may be caused by mismatches in the generation of the different I/3 (equal to I/(N−1)) among the different electrode i (102) drivers. It also keeps the electrode 800-803 potentials within acceptable ranges for continuous therapy delivery.

[0077] The preferred timing parameters, for the example of FIG. 8 being described, are 30 μs and 140 μs, for the pulse width PW and inter-phase intervals, respectively. This results in an equivalent frequency f, for the therapeutic phase at each electrode 800-803, slightly above the preferred 1,450 Hz. The pulse width PW preferred range is from 15 μs to 1,000 μs whereas that of the inter-phase interval may start from tens of μs to hundreds of μs or even a few thousand μs.

[0078] The therapeutic phase amplitude I may be programmable in the order of less than 20.0 mA, preferably less than 10.0 mA, further preferred between 1.0 mA to 5.0 mA, or between 0.5 mA and 10.0 mA. The maximum charge injected in any therapeutic phase is also limited by the IPG 104 to avoid tissue and electrode damage.

[0079] The IPG 104 of the present invention is capable of delivering multi-modality SCS therapy. An exemplary regime for multi-modality SCS therapy is described in U.S. provisional application No. 62/476,884 which is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a low frequency stimulation waveform between two (2) electrodes known from the prior art. Stimulation begins with a cathodic phase, contains an inter-phase interval, and ends with an anodic (charge balancing) phase (charge balancing electric pulse), and repeats. The return electrode passes the same but opposite currents. Additional electrodes may share different amounts of current, but with the same timing and wave shape.

[0081] FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a high-frequency stimulation waveform between two (2) electrodes known from the prior art. Stimulation begins with a cathodic phase, contains an inter-phase interval, and ends with an anodic (charge balancing) phase (charge balancing electric pulse), and repeats. The return electrode passes the same but opposite currents. Additional electrodes may share different amounts of current, but with the same timing and wave shape.

[0082] In the approach according to an embodiment of the present invention a system/device comprises N electrodes, each of the N electrodes (preferably N larger than 2 electrodes) undergoes a recurring pattern of a therapeutic phase (therapeutic electric pulse) with a current amplitude I and a series of N−1 of charge balancing phases (charge balancing phases also denoted charge balancing electric pulses herein), which pass an inverted current amplitude I of the therapeutic phase, preferably distributed with equal weight (I/(N−1)). The therapeutic phase and the charge balancing phases are separated by one (1) inter-phase interval. Further, each therapeutic phase is timely aligned with one (1) charge balancing phase of the other N−1 electrodes such that in the system/device only on therapeutic phase occurs at a time. After every electrode cyclically passed one (1) therapeutic phase the cycle starts with the first of the N electrodes.

[0083] FIG. 7 shows a diagram of one embodiment of the stimulation waveform according to the present invention between three (N=3) therapy electrodes, with cathodic preference. The exemplary system/device comprises three (3) electrodes (electrode 1, electrode 2, and electrode 3), each of the three (3) electrodes undergoes a recurring pattern of a cathodic phase (therapeutic phase, also denoted therapeutic electric pulse herein) with a current amplitude I and a series of two (2) charge balancing anodic phases (charge balancing phases, also denoted as charge balancing electric pulses herein), which pass ½ of the inverted current amplitude I of the therapeutic phase. The therapeutic phase and the charge balancing phases are separated by one (1) inter-phase interval. While electrode 1 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 2 and electrode 3 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/2. While electrode 2 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1 and electrode 3 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/2. While electrode 3 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 2 and electrode 1 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/2. After electrode 3 passed one (1) therapeutic phase the cycle starts with electrode 1 again, until terminated. In this way, charge neutrality on any given electrode is maintained, and the sum of current exiting the cathode equals the sum of currents entering anodes at any given time in the waveform.

[0084] FIG. 8 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the stimulation waveform according to the present invention between four (N=4) therapy electrodes, with cathodic preference. The exemplary system comprises four (4) electrodes (electrode 1, electrode 2, electrode 3, and electrode 4), each of the four (4) electrodes undergoes a recurring pattern of a cathodic phase (therapeutic phase, also denoted as therapeutic electric pulse herein) with a current amplitude I and a series of three (3) charge balancing anodic phases (charge balancing phases, also denoted as charge balancing electric pulses herein), which pass ⅓ of the inverted current amplitude I of the therapeutic phase. The therapeutic phase and the charge balancing phases are separated by one (1) inter-phase interval. While electrode 1 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 2, electrode 3 and electrode 4 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. While electrode 2 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1, electrode 3 and electrode 4 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. While electrode 3 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1, electrode 2 and electrode 4 pass one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. While electrode 4 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1, electrode 2 and electrode 3 pass one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. After electrode 4 passed one (1) therapeutic phase the cycle starts with electrode 1 again, until terminated. In this way, charge neutrality on any given electrode is maintained, and the sum of current exiting the cathode equals the sum of currents entering anodes at any given time in the waveform.

[0085] FIG. 9 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the stimulation waveform according to the present invention between four (N=4) therapy electrodes, with anodic preference. The exemplary system/device comprises four (4) electrodes (electrode 1, electrode 2, electrode 3, and electrode 4), each of the three (3) electrodes undergoes a recurring pattern of an anodic phase (therapeutic phase, also denoted as therapeutic electric pulse herein) with a current amplitude I and a series of two (2) charge balancing cathodic phases (charge balancing phases, also denoted as charge balancing electric pulses herein), which pass ⅓ of the inverted current amplitude I of the therapeutic phase. The therapeutic phase and the charge balancing phases are separated by one (1) inter-phase interval. While electrode 1 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 2, electrode 3 and electrode 4 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. While electrode 2 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1, electrode 3 and electrode 4 passes one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. While electrode 3 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1, electrode 2 and electrode 4 pass one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. While electrode 4 passes the therapeutic phase with amplitude I, each of electrode 1, electrode 2 and electrode 3 pass one (1) charge balancing phase with amplitude I/3. After electrode 4 passed one (1) therapeutic phase the cycle starts with electrode 1 again, until terminated. In this way, charge neutrality on any given electrode is maintained, and the sum of current entering the anode equals the sum of currents exiting the cathodes at any given time in the waveform.

[0086] Alternatively, anodic and cathodic preferences can be mixed or combined in different sequences and alternatively, the amplitudes of the charge balancing phases can have different values for each phase.

[0087] FIG. 10 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between three (3) electrodes, with cathodic preference. Stimulation begins with a cathodic phase, contains an inter-phase interval, and ends with a series of anodic (charge balancing) phases, which are aligned with the cathodic phase of a different electrode. In this example, each return electrode (electrode 2 and electrode 3 when electrode 1 stimulates) passes ½ of the amplitude and opposite currents as the currently active cathodic electrode, and the second anodic phase is delivered with passive balancing which may last longer than the cathodic phase of the opposing electrode. In this way, charge neutrality on any given electrode is maintained, and the sum of current exiting the cathode equals the sum of currents entering anodes at any given time in the waveform.

[0088] FIG. 11 shows a diagram of another embodiment of the novel stimulation waveform between three (3) electrodes, with cathodic preference. Stimulation begins with a cathodic phase, contains an inter-phase interval, and ends with a series of anodic (charge balancing) phases, which are aligned with the cathodic phase of a different electrode. In this example, return currents do not share equal current yet the sum of their current equals the amplitude and is opposite the current of the currently active cathodic electrode. In this way, charge neutrality on any given electrode is maintained, and the sum of current exiting the cathode equals the sum of currents entering anodes at any given time in the waveform.

[0089] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations of the described examples and embodiments are possible in light of the above teaching. The disclosed examples and embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration only. Therefore, it is the intent to cover all such modifications and alternate embodiments as may come within the true scope of this invention.