Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Philip Leonard Weiss

Goran Nils Marnfeldt

David Michael Wagenbach

Pujitha Weerakoon

Kiran K Gururaj

Emanuel Feldman

Goran N Marnfeldt

Improved stimulation circuitry for controlling the stimulation delivered by an implantable stimulator is disclosed. The stimulation circuitry includes memory circuitry that stores pulse programs that define pulse shapes, steering programs that define electrode configurations, and aggregate programs that link a selected pulse program with a selected steering program. Each steering program defines the stimulation polarity and the allocation of current of the specified stimulation polarity for each of the pulse generator's electrodes. Each pulse program includes one or more pulse instructions, where each instruction defines the parameters of a single phase of the pulse program. Pulse definition circuits in the stimulation circuitry execute aggregate programs to generate stimulation waveforms, which stimulation waveforms can be generated simultaneously by the different pulse definition circuits.

Pulse definition circuitry for creating stimulation waveforms in an implantable pulse generator

Techniques for sensing neural responses such as Evoked Compound Action Potentials (ECAPs) in an implantable stimulator device are disclosed. A first therapeutic pulse phase is followed by a charge recovery phase that includes at least one high-impedance passive charge recovery duration. The ECAP is sensed during the high-impedance passive charge recovery duration. The time period of the passive charge recovery is lengthened and the high-impedance passive recharge duration entirely overlaps the ECAP (i.e., the neural response duration) at the sensing electrode.

Neural sensing in an implantable stimulator device during passive charge recovery

An implantable pulse generator (IPG) is disclosed having a plurality of electrode nodes, each electrode node configured to be coupled to an electrode to provide stimulation pulses to a patient's tissue. The IPG includes a digital-to-analog converter configured to amplify a reference current to a first current specified by first control signals; a first resistance configured to receive the first current, wherein a voltage across the first resistance is held to a reference voltage at a first node; a plurality of branches each comprising a second resistance and configured to produce a branch current, wherein a voltage across each second resistance is held to the reference voltage at second nodes; and a switch matrix configurable to selectively couple any branch current to any of the electrode nodes via the second nodes.

Current generation architecture for an implantable medical device

An implantable pulse generator (IPG) is disclosed having an improved ability to steer anodic and cathodic currents between the IPG's electrodes. Each electrode node has at least one PDAC/NDAC pair to source/sink or sink/source a stimulation current to an associated electrode node. Each PDAC and NDAC receives a current with a magnitude indicative of a total anodic and cathodic current, and data indicative of a percentage of that total that each PDAC and NDAC will produce in the patient's tissue at any given time, which activates a number of branches in each PDAC or NDAC. Each PDAC and NDAC may also receive one or more resolution control signals specifying an increment by which the stimulation current may be adjusted at each electrode. The current received by each PDAC and NDAC is generated by a master DAC, and is preferably distributed to the PDACs and NDACs by distribution circuitry.

Current generation architecture for an implantable stimulator device including distributor circuitry for sending an amplitude-scaled current to digital-to-analog converters at the electrodes

Current generation architecture for an implantable stimulator device to promote current steering between electrodes

Improved stimulation circuitry for controlling the stimulation delivered by an implantable stimulator is disclosed. The stimulation circuitry includes memory circuitry that stores pulse programs that define pulse shapes, steering programs that define electrode configurations, and aggregate programs that link a selected pulse program with a selected steering program. The aggregate programs also include an amplitude modulation factor that modulates the amplitude defined by the pulse program. The inclusion of an amplitude modulation factor in the aggregate program allows complex amplitude-modulated waveforms to be produced. Pulse definition circuits in the stimulation circuitry execute aggregate programs to generate stimulation waveforms, which stimulation waveforms can be generated simultaneously by the different pulse definition circuits.

Amplitude modulating waveform pattern generation for stimulation in an implantable pulse generator

Digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry for providing currents at electrodes of an Implantable Pulse Generator (IPG) is disclosed. The DAC circuitry includes at least one PDAC for sourcing current to the electrodes, and at least one NDAC for sinking current from the electrodes. The PDACs are powered with power supplies VH (the compliance voltage) and Vssh in a high power domain, and the NDACs are powered with power supplies Vcc and ground in a low power domain. VH may change during IPG operation, and Vssh preferably also changes with a fixed difference with respect to VH. Digital control signals to the PDACs are formed (and possibly converted into) the high power domain, and transistors used to build the PDACs are biased in the high power domain, and thus may also change with VH. This permits transistors in the PDACs and NDACs to be made from normal low-voltage logic transistors.

Biasing of a current generation architecture for an implantable medical device

Improved circuitry for measuring analog values in an implantable pulse generator is disclosed. The measurement circuitry executes instructions that define the timing and parameters of measurements to be taken. The instructions include instructions that are responsive to different types of triggers issued by different pulse definition circuits, which pulse definition circuits generate different stimulation waveforms at different groups of electrodes. The measurement circuitry is configurable to update the groups of electrodes used to deliver stimulation.

Growing community of inventors

Sherman Oaks, CA, United States of America

Philip Leonard Weiss