Therapy delivery method and system for implantable medical devices

Abstract

Recent advancements in power electronics technology have provided opportunities for enhancements to circuits of implantable medical devices. The enhancements have contributed to increasing circuit miniaturization and an increased efficiency in the operation of the implantable medical devices. The therapy delivery circuits and techniques of the disclosure facilitate generation of a therapy stimulation waveform that may be shaped based on the patient's physiological response to the stimulation waveform. The generated therapy stimulation waveforms include a stepped leading-edge that may be shaped having a varying slope and varying amplitudes associated with each of the segments of the slope. Unlike the truncated exponential waveform delivered by the conventional therapy delivery circuit which is based on the behavior of the output capacitors (i.e., i=C(dV/dt)), the stimulation waveform of the present disclosure may be dynamically shaped as a function of an individual patient's response. The dynamically shaped therapy stimulation waveforms facilitate achieving lower capture thresholds which reduces the device's supply consumption thereby increasing longevity of the device and facilitate a reduction of tissue damage.