Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090024189 | USE OF STIMULATION PULSE SHAPE TO CONTROL NEURAL RECRUITMENT ORDER AND CLINICAL EFFECT - A method, electrical tissue stimulation system, and programmer for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrodes are placed adjacent tissue (e.g., spinal cord tissue) of the patient, electrical stimulation energy is delivered from the electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform, and a pulse shape of the defined waveform is modified, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the electrode(s) to the tissue. The pulse shape may be modified by selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types or by adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape. | 01-22-2009 |
20100057162 | MULTIPLE TUNABLE CENTRAL CATHODES ON A PADDLE FOR INCREASED MEDIAL-LATERAL AND ROSTRAL-CAUDAL FLEXIBILITY VIA CURRENT STEERING - A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057163 | MULTIPLE TUNABLE CENTRAL CATHODES ON A PADDLE FOR INCREASED MEDIAL-LATERAL AND ROSTRAL-CAUDAL FLEXIBILITY VIA CURRENT STEERING - A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057164 | MULTIPLE TUNABLE CENTRAL CATHODES ON A PADDLE FOR INCREASED MEDIAL-LATERAL AND ROSTRAL-CAUDAL FLEXIBILITY VIA CURRENT STEERING - A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057165 | MULTIPLE TUNABLE CENTRAL CATHODES ON A PADDLE FOR INCREASED MEDIAL-LATERAL AND ROSTRAL-CAUDAL FLEXIBILITY VIA CURRENT STEERING - A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue. | 03-04-2010 |
20100057177 | MULTIPLE TUNABLE CENTRAL CATHODES ON A PADDLE FOR INCREASED MEDIAL-LATERAL AND ROSTRAL-CAUDAL FLEXIBILITY VIA CURRENT STEERING - A neurostimulation paddle lead, method of neurostimulation, and neurostimulation system are provided. The neurostimulation paddle lead carries a plurality of electrodes comprising at least four columns of electrodes having a spacing between two inner electrode columns less than a spacing between the inner electrode columns and adjacent outer electrode columns. The inner electrode columns may also be longitudinally offset from the outer electrode columns. The methods and neurostimulation systems steer current between the electrodes to modify a medial-lateral electrical field created adjacent spinal cord tissue. | 03-04-2010 |
20100121416 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING RELATIVE INTENSITY BETWEEN CATHODES AND ANODES OF NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM USING PULSE SLICING - A method and neurostimulation system for providing therapy to a patient is provided. A plurality of electrodes is placed adjacent to tissue of the patient. A plurality of first electrical pulses is delivered to a first set of the electrodes, at least a second electrical pulse is delivered to a second set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, and at least a third electrical pulse is delivered to a third set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses. The first electrical pulses have a first polarity, and each of the second electrical pulse(s) and third electrical pulses(s) has a second a second polarity opposite to the first polarity. The second and third electrical pulses are temporarily offset from each other. | 05-13-2010 |
20100125313 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULATING ACTION POTENTIAL PROPAGATION DURING SPINAL CORD STIMULATION - A method and neurostimulator for providing therapy to a patient is provided. In one technique, an electrical pulsed waveform is conveyed between a caudal electrode and spinal cord tissue, thereby evoking action potentials that are orthodromically propagated along dorsal column fibers and evoking action potentials that are antidromically propagated along the DC fibers. Electrical energy is conveyed between a rostral electrode and the spinal cord tissue, thereby modulating times that the action potentials orthodromically propagated along the DC fibers arrive at the brain. In another technique, an electrical pulsed waveform is conveyed through a first electrode, thereby evoking action potentials that are propagated along a neural axon, and electrical energy is conveyed through the second electrode. The electrical energy has a frequency that is greater than a pulse rate of the electrical pulsed waveform, such that the action potentials propagated along the neural axon are blocked by the electrical energy. | 05-20-2010 |
20100125314 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AUTOMATIC PULSE PARAMETERS TO SELECTIVELY ACTIVATE NERVE FIBERS - A method of stimulating nerve tissue, a tissue stimulation system, and an external control device are provided. The method, system, and control device causes an electrical stimulus to be applied to at least one electrode adjacent the nerve tissue of a patient. The applied electrical stimulus comprises a plurality of pulses defined by a pulse width value and an amplitude value. The pulse amplitude value is increased (e.g., manually), and the pulse width value is automatically decreased in response to increasing the pulse amplitude value in a manner that increases the intensity of the applied electrical stimulus. Alternatively, the pulse width value may be decreased (e.g., manually), and the pulse amplitude value automatically increased in response to decreasing the pulse width value in a manner that increases the intensity of the applied electrical stimulus. | 05-20-2010 |
20100137960 | IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATORS HAVING REDUCED POCKET STIMULATION - Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator. | 06-03-2010 |
20100137961 | IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATORS HAVING REDUCED POCKET STIMULATION - Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator. | 06-03-2010 |
20100137962 | IMPLANTABLE NEUROSTIMULATORS HAVING REDUCED POCKET STIMULATION - Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator. | 06-03-2010 |
20100324630 | SPATIALLY SELECTIVE NERVE STIMULATION IN HIGH-FREQUENCY NERVE CONDUCTION BLOCK AND RECRUITMENT - A method of providing therapy to a patient using at least one electrode is provided. The patient has a neural tissue region that is relatively close to the at least one electrode, and a neural tissue region that is relatively far from the at least one electrode. The method comprises conveying time-varying electrical energy from the electrode(s) into the relatively close and far neural tissue regions, wherein the electrical energy has a frequency and amplitude that blocks stimulation of the relatively close neural tissue region, while stimulating the relatively far neural tissue region. | 12-23-2010 |
20100331926 | REVERSING RECRUITMENT ORDER BY ANODE INTENSIFICATION - A method of providing therapy to a patient using a plurality of electrodes is provided. The electrodes are located adjacent a target neural tissue region having a first nerve fiber of a relatively small diameter and a second nerve fiber of a relatively large diameter. The method comprises sourcing electrical current from a local anode into the target neural tissue region. The method further comprises therapeutically sinking a first portion of the electrical current from the target neural tissue region into a local cathode. The method further comprises sinking a second portion of the electrical current into a cathode remote from the target neural tissue region. The ratio of the sourced electrical current over the first sunk electrical current portion has a value that allows the first nerve fiber to be recruited by the electrical current while preventing the second nerve fiber from being recruited by the electrical current. | 12-30-2010 |
20110009923 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING EXCITABILITY OF DORSAL ROOT FIBER BY INTRODUCING STOCHASTIC BACKGROUND NOISE - A method and neurostimulator for providing therapy to a patient is provided. In one technique, electrical background energy is conveyed to a first tissue region of the patient in accordance with stochastic parameter, thereby modulating the excitability of the first tissue region, and electrical stimulation energy is conveyed to the first tissue region when its excitability is modulated. In one example, the stimulation energy may be conveyed to a second tissue region of the patient, thereby therapeutically stimulating the second tissue region. In this case, the excitability of the first tissue region is decreased, thereby reducing any adverse effect that the conveyed stimulation energy has on the first tissue region. As another example, the conveyed stimulation energy stimulates the first tissue region, in which case, the excitability of the first tissue region may be increased, thereby enhancing the stimulation of the first tissue region by the conveyed stimulation energy. | 01-13-2011 |
20110172751 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING BENDABLE PADDLES WITH IMPLANTABLE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION SYSTEMS - An implantable paddle lead includes a paddle body coupled to a distal end of an elongated lead body. A plurality of contacts are disposed on a front surface of the paddle body. At least one manually bendable shape-retaining member is interconnected with the paddle body. The at least one shape-retaining member is formed from a deformable material that is stiff enough to maintain a given shape for at least one day. The at least one bendable shape-retaining member is interconnected with the paddle body such that bending the at least one shape-retaining member causes a corresponding bend of at least a portion of the paddle body in proximity to the at least one shape-retaining member. | 07-14-2011 |
20120004707 | USE OF STIMULATION PULSE SHAPE TO CONTROL NEURAL RECRUITMENT ORDER AND CLINICAL EFFECT - A method, electrical tissue stimulation system, and programmer for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrodes are placed adjacent tissue (e.g., spinal cord tissue) of the patient, electrical stimulation energy is delivered from the electrodes to the tissue in accordance with a defined waveform, and a pulse shape of the defined waveform is modified, thereby changing the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy delivered from the electrode(s) to the tissue. The pulse shape may be modified by selecting one of a plurality of different pulse shape types or by adjusting a time constant of the pulse shape. | 01-05-2012 |
20120016448 | ENERGY EFFICIENT HIGH FREQUENCY NERVE BLOCKING TECHNIQUE - A neurostimulation system and method of blocking a neural axon. Time-varying electrical energy is conveyed to a blocking site on the neural axon for an initial phase. The conveyed electrical energy has an amplitude and frequency during the initial phase sufficient to block action potentials from propagating along the neural axon from a location proximal to the blocking site to a location distal to the blocking site. The time-varying electrical energy is conveyed to the blocking site on the neural axon for a subsequent phase contiguous with the initial phase. The conveyed electrical energy has a decreased amplitude and a frequency during the subsequent phase sufficient to maintain blocking of the action potentials along the neural axon from the location proximal to the blocking site to the location distal to the blocking site. | 01-19-2012 |
20120041511 | METHOD FOR SELECTIVELY PERFORMING LOCAL AND RADIAL PERIPHERAL STIMULATION - A control system for use with a neurostimulator comprises a user interface for receiving an input from a user and a controller. The user interface has a first control and a second control. The controller is configured for, in response to actuating the first control, operating the neurostimulation control system in a PNFS programming mode, and for, in response to actuating the second control, operating the neurostimulation control system in a PNS programming mode. A method of providing therapy to a patient comprises initially conveying pulsed electrical current at a pulse width into a peripheral tissue region of the patient to create a side effect via stimulation of one of a nerve ending and neural axon, and subsequently conveying pulsed electrical current at an adjusted pulse width into the peripheral tissue region to create a therapeutic effect via stimulation of the other one of the nerve ending and neural axon. | 02-16-2012 |
20120041518 | NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH GRAPHICALLY MANIPULATABLE STIMULATION TARGET - An external control device for use with a neurostimulation device having a plurality of electrodes carried by at least one neurostimulation lead. The external control device comprises a display screen configured for displaying at least one object relative to a graphical representation of the neurostimulation lead(s). The object(s) represents an abstraction of a stimulation target. The external control device further comprises detection circuitry configured for detecting an actuation event that includes placing at least one pointing element in proximity to the object(s). The external control device further comprises processing circuitry configured for manipulating the object(s) on the display screen in response to the detection of the actuation event, thereby modifying the stimulation target abstraction, and for generating a set of stimulation parameters that emulates the modified stimulation target abstraction. The external control device further comprises output circuitry configured for transmitting the set of stimulation parameters to the neurostimulation device. | 02-16-2012 |
20130144362 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING RELATIVE INTENSITY BETWEEN CATHODES AND ANODES OF NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM USING PULSE SLICING - A method and neurostimulation system for providing therapy to a patient is provided. A plurality of electrodes is placed adjacent to tissue of the patient. A plurality of first electrical pulses is delivered to a first set of the electrodes, at least a second electrical pulse is delivered to a second set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses, and at least a third electrical pulse is delivered to a third set of the electrodes during the deliverance of each of the first electrical pulses. The first electrical pulses have a first polarity, and each of the second electrical pulse(s) and third electrical pulses(s) has a second a second polarity opposite to the first polarity. The second and third electrical pulses are temporarily offset from each other. | 06-06-2013 |
20130296975 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODULATING ACTION POTENTIAL PROPAGATION DURING SPINAL CORD STIMULATION - A method and neurostimulator for providing therapy to a patient is provided. In one technique, an electrical pulsed waveform is conveyed between a caudal electrode and spinal cord tissue, thereby evoking action potentials that are orthodromically propagated along dorsal column fibers and evoking action potentials that are antidromically propagated along the DC fibers. Electrical energy is conveyed between a rostral electrode and the spinal cord tissue, thereby modulating times that the action potentials orthodromically propagated along the DC fibers arrive at the brain. In another technique, an electrical pulsed waveform is conveyed through a first electrode, thereby evoking action potentials that are propagated along a neural axon, and electrical energy is conveyed through the second electrode. The electrical energy has a frequency that is greater than a pulse rate of the electrical pulsed waveform, such that the action potentials propagated along the neural axon are blocked by the electrical energy. | 11-07-2013 |