Neural Stimulation for Reduced Artefact

A method of delivering a neural stimulus, the method comprising:

• delivering a first stimulus component at a first electrode and a third stimulus component at a third electrode, the first stimulus component and the third stimulus component being of a first polarity;
• and
• delivering a second stimulus component at a second electrode in between the first electrode and the third electrode, the second stimulus component being of a second polarity opposite the first polarity;
• wherein the first, second, and third stimulus components are charge balanced;
• and
• wherein the first stimulus component delivers a first charge which is unequal to a third charge delivered by the third stimulus component, the second stimulus component delivers a second charge, and the first charge and the third charge are selected so as to give rise to reduced artefact.

The method of claim 1, further comprising:

• obtaining a recording of a response to the neural stimulus at a sense electrode;
• and
• detecting a neural response in the recording with a vector detector,
• wherein the first charge and the third charge of the neural stimulus have values that cause an artefact vector produced by the vector detector to be non-parallel to an evoked neural response vector produced by the vector detector.

An implantable device for delivering a neural stimulus, the device comprising:

• an array of electrodes;
• and
• a processor configured to cause a first electrode of the array to deliver a first stimulus component and a third electrode of the array to deliver a third stimulus component, the first stimulus component and the third stimulus component being of a first polarity, and the processor further configured to cause a second electrode of the array in between the first electrode and the third electrode to deliver a second stimulus component, the second stimulus component being of a second polarity opposite the first polarity,
• wherein the first, second, and third stimulus components are charge balanced, and
• wherein the first stimulus component delivers a first charge which is unequal to a third charge delivered by the third stimulus component, the second stimulus component delivers a second charge, and the first charge and the third charge are selected so as to give rise to reduced artefact.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for delivering a neural stimulus, comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of the following:

• delivering a first stimulus component at a first electrode and a third stimulus component at a third electrode, the first stimulus component and the third stimulus component being of a first polarity;
• and
• delivering a second stimulus component at a second electrode in between the first electrode and the third electrode, the second stimulus component being of a second polarity opposite the first polarity,
• wherein the first to third stimulus components are charge balanced;
• and
• wherein the first stimulus component delivers a first charge which is unequal to a third charge delivered by the third stimulus component, the second stimulus component delivers a second charge, and the first charge and the third charge are selected so as to give rise to reduced artefact.