Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.

Benjamin A Tranchina

Anthony J Varrichio

John H Erickson

Robert McCormick

In one embodiment, a method of operating an implantable pulse generator comprises: providing power to a voltage converter at a first voltage level; outputting a second voltage level by the voltage converter, the second voltage level being a variable voltage level that is controlled by a control signal provided to the voltage converter, the second voltage level being provided to pulse generating circuitry of the implantable pulse generator, the second voltage level being selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the first voltage level; generating pulses by the pulse generating circuitry, the pulse generating circuitry including current control circuitry for controlling the pulses to cause the pulses to provide substantially constant current to tissue of the patient; and applying at least two different control signals to the voltage converter during individual pulses to provide successively increasing voltages to the pulse generating circuitry during a respective pulse.

Method for providing multiple voltage levels during pulse generation and implantable pulse generating employing the same

In one embodiment, a stimulation lead comprises: a lead body of insulative material surrounding a plurality of conductors; a plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of terminals, the plurality of terminals electrically coupled to the plurality of electrodes through the plurality of conductors; wherein each conductor of the plurality of conductors is helically wound about an axis within the lead body in at least an outer portion and an inner portion relative to the axis, the outer portion comprises a first winding pitch and the inner portion comprises a second winding pitch, the second winding pitch is less than the first winding pitch, the inner portion of each respective conductor being disposed interior to the outer portions of other conductors of the plurality of conductors; wherein an impedance of each conductor of the plurality of conductors substantially reduces MRI-induced current when the stimulation lead is present in an MRI system.

Method for fabricating a stimulation lead to reduce MRI heating

Disclosed are systems and methods which provide voltage conversion in increments less than integer multiples of a power supply (e.g., battery) voltage. A representative embodiment provides power supply voltage multipliers in a binary ladder distribution to provide a desired number of output voltage steps using a relatively uncomplicated circuit design. By using different sources in various combinations and/or by 'stacking' different sources in various ways, the voltage multiplier circuit may be used to provide desired voltages. In order to minimize the number of components used in a voltage converter of an embodiment, a capacitive voltage converter circuit uses one or more storage capacitors in place of pump capacitors in a voltage generation cycle. Also, certain embodiments do not operate to generate an output voltage until the time that voltage is needed.

Pulse generator having an efficient fractional voltage converter and method of use

In one embodiment, a method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of a patient, comprises: generating, by an implantable pulse generator, one or more electrical pulses; applying the one or more electrical pulses to neural tissue of a patient using one or more electrodes of one or more stimulation leads; concurrently with the generating, providing a voltage waveform or signal by the implantable pulse generator; and concurrently with the applying, electrically coupling one or more field effect electrodes of the one or more stimulation leads to the voltage waveform or signal to generate a localized electric field within tissue proximate to the one or more electrodes used to apply the one or more electrical pulses.

Stimulation lead for steering current for stimulation of patient tissue, method of stimulating patient tissue, and implantable medical system

To avoid charge accumulation on capacitive connections to implanted electrodes during delivery of stimulation pulses, stimulation pulses are followed by active discharge pulses having opposite polarity of the stimulation pulses. The active discharge pulses preferably have at least one pulse attribute magnitude (e.g., duration, voltage, and/or current) different than a corresponding stimulation pulse and are preferably programmable. Approximately the same total net current flow is delivered during active discharge pulses as during the stimulation pulses, but in the opposite direction and optionally at a lower amplitude. In addition, by reducing the driving voltage and a variable load within the electrical path for delivery of the pulses, power dissipation during active discharge is preferably reduced.

Active discharge systems and methods

In one embodiment, an implantable pulse generator comprises: pulse generating circuitry for generating pulses and delivering the pulses to outputs of the implantable pulse generator; a controller; wherein the pulse generating circuitry comprises a voltage multiplier for multiplying a battery voltage, the voltage multiplier including multiple outputs, wherein a first output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is programmably selectable from a plurality of voltages including non-integer multiples of the battery voltage, wherein a second output of the multiple outputs provides a voltage that is a fixed multiple of the battery voltage; wherein the controller controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a first pulse for stimulation of the patient using a first output of the multiple outputs and controls the pulse generator circuitry to generate a second pulse to discharge output capacitors of residual charge from the first pulse using a second output of the multiple outputs.

Implantable pulse generator comprising fractional voltage converter

Fractional voltage converter

In one embodiment, an implantable medical device comprises: a rechargeable battery for powering the implantable medical device; an antenna for receiving RF power; and circuitry for charging the rechargeable battery using power received via the antenna, wherein the circuitry for charging comprises control circuitry that causes the circuitry for charging to recharge the rechargeable battery using multiple current levels applied in succession, and wherein the circuitry for charging switches from at least one of the current levels to another current level when a charging voltage of the rechargeable battery reaches a threshold value that is varied by the control circuitry over a lifespan of the rechargeable battery.

Systems and methods for use in pulse generation

A low power (and lower cost) implementation for amplifier used in delivering a stimulation pulse is provided according to embodiments through use of a pre-charge period for each pulse. For example, a voltage at a variable output terminal of a digital-to-analog converter is increased on the leading edge of PULSE and INVERTCLK signals to result in an output of an operational amplifier increasing to a predetermined voltage prior to output of a stimulation pulse, according to an embodiment. A shunt path may be implemented to shunt current away from a load during the pre-charge period.

Systems and methods for precharging circuitry for pulse generation

Embodiments provide a capacitive voltage multiplier for efficiently producing multiples, including fractional multiples, of a power supply voltage use high, medium and low voltage field effect transistors for switching terminals of various capacitors into and out of connection with power supply or ground voltages in charge mode and with an output or other capacitor terminals for series connection in pump mode. A single non-overlapping clock is level-shifted up to the maximum voltage level required for switching to produce a desired output, then level shifted back down to lower levels with delay added as necessary according to embodiments.

Growing community of inventors

Allen, TX, United States of America

Benjamin A Tranchina