# US 2021/0330980 A1 · Electrode position detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330980 A1 - Document ID: US20210330980A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/858,030 - Filed: 2020-04-24 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-24 - Assignees: Medtronic, Inc. - Applicants: Medtronic, Inc. - Inventors: Jerel K. Mueller; Andrew J. Cleland - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330980A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/0538: invasively, e.g. using a catheter - A61N 1/36139: {with automatic adjustment} - A61B 5/068: {using impedance sensors} - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/0529: {Electrodes for brain stimulation} - A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes} - A61N 1/0587: {Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium} - A61N 1/36062: {Spinal stimulation} - A61N 1/36185: {Selection of the electrode configuration} - A61N 1/36189: {using modulation techniques} - A61B 2562/043: in a linear array - A61N 1/0534: {Electrodes for deep brain stimulation} - A61N 1/0553: {Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy} - A61N 1/0556: {Cuff electrodes} - A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control} - A61N 1/36057: {adapted for stimulating afferent nerves} - A61N 1/36067: {Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease (stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003)} - A61N 1/37235: {Aspects of the external programmer} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 Devices, systems, and techniques are disclosed for determining spatial relationships between electrodes implanted within a patient. In one example, a medical device delivers, via a first electrode, an electrical stimulus and senses, for each other electrode, a respective electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus. The medical device determines, for each other electrode, a respective value for each respective electrical signal. The medical device determines, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal and values of tissue conductivity of tissues of the patient interposed between the first electrode and the other electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: controlling, by processing circuitry of a medical device, stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes, an electrical stimulus; sensing, by sensing circuitry and for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus; determining, by the processing circuitry and for each other electrode, a respective value for each respective electrical signal; and determining, by the processing circuitry, and based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting, by the processing circuitry and based on the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and controlling, by the processing circuitry, the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via the selected at least one electrode, electrical stimulation therapy to a patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting, by the processing circuitry and based on the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and control, by the processing circuitry, the sensing circuitry to sense, via the selected at least one electrode, at least one biosignal of a patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver the electrical stimulus comprises controlling the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver an electrical stimulus defined by a first voltage amplitude value; wherein sensing, for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the respective electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus comprises sensing, for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, electrical signals indicative of second voltage amplitude values indicative of the electrical stimulus, and wherein determining the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises determining, based on the first voltage amplitude value and the electrical signals indicative of the second voltage amplitude values, the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprises: determining, based on a respective values for a respective electrical signal sensed by a second electrode and a value of a tissue conductivity of a tissue of a patient interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a spatial relationship between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: sensing, by the sensing circuitry, a value of an impedance between the first electrode and the second electrode of the plurality of electrodes; determining, by the processing circuitry and based on the sensed value of the impedance, a type of a tissue interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and determining, by the processing circuitry and based on the type of the tissue interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the value of the tissue conductivity of the tissue of the patient interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the type of the tissue interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode is one of a nerve tissue, a bone tissue, a connective tissue, or an adipose tissue. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting, by the processing circuitry and for display to a user, a representation of the plurality of electrodes depicting a spatial relationship between at least two of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the representation of the plurality of electrodes depicting the spatial relationship between at least two of the plurality of electrodes comprises a representation of the plurality of electrodes depicting the spatial relationship between at least two of the plurality of electrodes in 3 dimensions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes comprise distances between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed on a plurality of leads. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are implanted within an epidural space of a patient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an implantable medical device comprises the stimulation generation circuitry and the processing circuitry. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: sensing, by the sensing circuitry and for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective second electrical signal indicative of a cardiac signal of a heart of a patient; determining, by the processing circuitry and for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective second value for each respective electrical signal; and determining, by the processing circuitry and based on the respective second values for each respective second electrical signal sensed by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the heart of the patient. ### Claim 15 A medical device system comprising: stimulation generation circuitry configured to deliver electrical stimulation via a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes; and processing circuitry configured to control the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via the first electrode, an electrical stimulus; sensing circuitry configured to sense, for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, for each other electrode, a respective value for each respective electrical signal, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: select, based on the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and control the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via the selected at least one electrode, electrical stimulation therapy to a patient. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein to determine, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrode, the processing circuitry is configured to: determine, based on a respective values for a respective electrical signal sensed by a second electrode and a value of a tissue conductivity of a tissue of a patient interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a spatial relationship between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, further comprising an external programmer configured to output, for display to a user, a representation of the plurality of electrodes depicting a spatial relationship between at least two of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed on a plurality of leads. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein an implantable medical device comprises the stimulation generation circuitry, the processing circuitry, and the sensing circuitry. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the sensing circuitry is further configured to sense, for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective second electrical signal indicative of a cardiac signal of a heart of a patient, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective second value for each respective electrical signal, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the respective second values for each respective second electrical signal sensed by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the heart of the patient. ### Claim 22 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, are configured to cause processing circuitry of a medical device to: control stimulation generation circuitry of the medical device to deliver, via a first electrode of a plurality of electrodes, an electrical stimulus; control sensing circuitry to sense, for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus; determine, for each other electrode, a respective value for each respective electrical signal; and determine, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 23 A method comprising: sensing, by sensing circuitry of a medical device and via each electrode of a plurality of electrodes, a respective electrical signal indicative of a cardiac signal of a heart of a patient; determining, by the processing circuitry and for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective value for each respective electrical signal; and determining, by the processing circuitry, and based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the processing circuitry, and based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the heart of the patient. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising: selecting, by the processing circuitry and based on the spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and controlling, by the processing circuitry, stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via the selected at least one electrode, electrical stimulation therapy to the patient. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising: selecting, by the processing circuitry and based on the spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and sensing, by the processing circuitry and via the selected at least one electrode, at least one biosignal of the patient. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising: controlling, by the processing circuitry, stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes, an electrical stimulus; sensing, by the sensing circuitry and for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective second electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus; determining, by the processing circuitry and for each other electrode, a respective second value for each respective second electrical signal; and determining, by the processing circuitry, and based on the respective second values for each respective second electrical signal sensed by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 28 A medical device system comprising: sensing circuitry configured to sense, via each electrode of a plurality of electrodes, a respective electrical signal indicative of a cardiac signal of a heart of a patient; and processing circuitry configured to: determine, for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective value for each respective electrical signal; and determine, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the respective values for each respective electrical signal sensed by each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the heart of the patient. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: select, based on the spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and control the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via the selected at least one electrode, electrical stimulation therapy to the patient. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to: select, based on the spatial relationship between each electrode of the plurality of electrodes and the heart of the patient, at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and control, by the processing circuitry, the sensing circuitry to sense, via the selected at least one electrode, at least one biosignal of the patient. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The system of claim 28, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to control the stimulation generation circuitry to deliver, via a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes, an electrical stimulus, wherein the sensing circuitry is further configured to sense, for each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a respective second electrical signal indicative of the electrical stimulus, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, for each other electrode, a respective second value for each respective second electrical signal, and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to determine, based on the respective second values for each respective second electrical signal sensed by each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes, spatial relationships between the first electrode and each other electrode of the plurality of electrodes.