Implantable medical device having multiple electrode/sensor capability and stimulation based on sensed intrinsic activity

Abstract

In one embodiment, an implantable neurostimulator comprises a pulse generator that generates an electrical pulse signal to stimulate a neural structure in a patient, a stimulation lead assembly coupled to the pulse generator for delivering the electrical pulse signal to the neural structure, a plurality of sensors coupled to the pulse generator, and sensor select logic. Each sensor is individually selectable and the sensor select logic selects any two or more of the plurality of sensors for sensing a voltage difference between the selected sensors. In other embodiments, two or more physiologic parameters are sensed. In yet another embodiment, a method comprises sensing intrinsic electrical activity on a person's nerve and stimulating the nerve based on the sensed intrinsic electrical activity of the nerve.