# US 12,502,540 B2 · Method and apparatus for multi modal electrical modulation of pain using composite electromagnetic fields > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,502,540 B2 - Document ID: US12502540B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/521,521 - Filed: 2021-11-08 - Published: 2022-03-03 - Granted: 2025-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-20 - Assignees: Medtronic SG, LLC - Applicants: Medtronic SG, LLC - Inventors: Ricardo Vallejo; David Leonardo Cedeno; Nathan A. Torgerson; Brian Andrew Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12502540B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/36071: {Pain} - A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes} - A61N 1/36062: {Spinal stimulation} - A61N 1/36192: {Amplitude modulation} - A61N 1/36196: {Frequency modulation} - A61N 2/008: {for pain treatment or analgesia} - A61N 1/36121: {Production of neurotransmitters; Modulation of genes expression} - A61N 1/36178: {Burst or pulse train parameters} - A61N 1/37247: {User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means} - A61N 2/002: {in combination with another treatment} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses a single composite modulation/stimulation signal with variable characteristics to achieve the same results as separate varying electromagnetic signals, including spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a signal generator; and processing circuitry configured to: control the signal generator to deliver a biphasic signal to a nerve area for a first period of time; control the signal generator to apply, via one or more electrodes, a first phase segment of the biphasic signal to the nerve area during the first period of time, the first phase segment having a first frequency; control the signal generator to apply, via the one or more electrodes, a second phase segment of the biphasic signal to the nerve area during the first period of time, the second phase segment having a second frequency lower than the first frequency of the first phase segment; and subsequent to applying the biphasic signal to the nerve area for the first period of time, control the signal generator to turn off the biphasic signal for a second period of time greater than the first period of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to turn off the biphasic signal for the second period of time in order to retain a residual effect of the biphasic signal for a patient during the second period of time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator is configured to provide the first phase segment at a frequency between 200 Hz and 1400 Hz (burst). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator is configured to provide the second phase segment at a frequency between 20 Hz to 100 Hz. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the signal generator is configured to provide the second phase segment at a frequency of about 50 Hz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator module is configured to provide the first phase segment at a frequency between 750 Hz and 1050 Hz (average). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator module is configured to provide the first phase segment at a frequency of about 1200 Hz (burst) and about 900 Hz (average). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator module is configured to provide the first phase segment with pulses having a pulse width between about 100 and 400 microseconds. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator module is configured to provide the first phase segment with pulses having a pulse width between about 150 and 200 microseconds. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the signal generator module is configured to provide the second phase segment with pulses having a pulse width between about 100 and 400 microseconds. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first phase segment comprises a respective rectangular recovery pulse following each stimulation pulse of the first phase segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first phase segment comprises an exponentially decaying recovery pulse following each stimulation pulse of the first phase segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second phase segment comprises a respective rectangular recovery pulse following each stimulation pulse of the second phase segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second phase segment comprises an exponentially decaying recovery pulse following each stimulation pulse of the second phase segment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the signal generator module to cycle the biphasic signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising a sensor configured to detect a patient condition, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the signal generator to cycle the biphasic signal based on a change in the patient condition. ### Claim 17 A signal generator comprising electronic circuitry, the signal generator configured to: deliver a biphasic signal to a nerve area for a first period of time; apply, via one or more electrodes, a first phase segment of the biphasic signal to the nerve area during the first period of time, the first phase segment having a first frequency; apply, via the one or more electrodes, a second phase segment of the biphasic signal to the nerve area during the first period of time, the second phase segment having a second frequency lower than the first frequency of the first phase segment; and subsequent to applying the biphasic signal to the nerve area for the first period of time, turn off the biphasic signal for a second period of time greater than the first period of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The signal generator of claim 17, wherein the signal generator is configured to turn off the biphasic signal for the second period of time in order to retain a residual effect of the biphasic signal for a patient during the second period of time. ### Claim 19 A method comprising: configuring a signal generator to: deliver a biphasic signal to a nerve area for a first period of time; apply, via one or more electrodes, a first phase segment of the biphasic signal to the nerve area during the first period of time, the first phase segment having a first frequency; apply, via the one or more electrodes, a second phase segment of the biphasic signal to the nerve area during the first period of time, the second phase segment having a second frequency lower than the first frequency of the first phase segment; and subsequent to applying the biphasic signal to the nerve area for the first period of time, turn off the biphasic signal for a second period of time greater than the first period of time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising configuring the signal generator to turn off the biphasic signal for the second period of time in order to retain a residual effect of the biphasic signal for a patient during the second period of time.