Variation of Neural Stimulation Parameters
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorPaul H. Stypulkowski
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Abstract
Techniques for varying stimulus parameters used in neural stimulation to improve therapy efficacy, minimize energy consumption, minimize undesired side effects, and minimize loss of therapeutic effectiveness due to physiologic tolerance to stimulation. Neural stimulation is provided having a stimulation amplitude, a stimulation frequency, a stimulation pulse duration, an electrode-firing pattern, and a set of electrode-firing-polarity conditions. At least one of the stimulation parameters is pseudo-randomly varied. A second stimulation parameter is changed based upon having pseudo-randomly varied the first stimulation parameter and based upon a predetermined relationship specifying how changes in the first parameter affect desirable values for the second parameter.
Claims20
A neural-stimulation device comprising:
- means for measuring a strength-duration curve for neural excitation for at least one of a patient's neurons;
- means for providing neural stimulation having a plurality of stimulation parameters including a stimulation amplitude, a stimulation frequency, a stimulation pulse duration, an electrode-firing pattern, and a set of one or more electrode-polarity-firing conditions;
- means for pseudo-randomly varying at least a first of the stimulation parameters;
- and
- means for changing a value of a second of the stimulation parameters based upon having pseudo-randomly varied the first stimulation parameter and based upon the measured strength-duration curve that specifies how changes in the first parameter affect desirable values for the second parameter.
A neural-stimulation device comprising:
- a stimulation processor;
- a memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, that when executed by the stimulation processor, cause the neural-stimulation device to perform:
- providing neural stimulation having a plurality of stimulation parameters including a stimulation amplitude, a stimulation frequency, a stimulation pulse duration, an electrode-firing pattern, and a set of one or more electrode-polarity-firing conditions, the neural stimulation based on a strength-duration curve of neural excitation, the strength-duration curve of neural excitation containing measured stimulation-amplitude values at corresponding stimulation-pulse durations that achieve reduction of tremor via thalamic stimulation;
- pseudo-randomly varying at least a first of the stimulation parameters, and
- changing a value of a second of the stimulation parameters based upon having varied the first stimulation parameter and based upon the strength-duration curve of neural excitation.
A neural-stimulation device comprising:
- a programmable frequency generator, the programmable frequency generator configured to provide a stimulation amplitude and stimulation frequency;
- a pulse width control module configured to provide a stimulation pulse duration;
- a stimulation processor;
- and
- a memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, that when executed by the stimulation processor, cause the neural-stimulation device to:
- provide neural stimulation having a plurality of stimulation parameters;
- pseudo-randomly varying at least a first of the plurality of stimulation parameters;
- and
- changing a value of a second of the plurality of stimulation parameters based upon having pseudo-randomly varied the first stimulation parameter and based upon a measured strength-duration curve that specifies how changes in the first parameter affect desirable values for the second parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.