US 2026/0233011 A1 · APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE EFFECT OF LEAD MIGRATION DURING SPINAL CORD STIMULATION

Abstract

In the present invention, an IPG incorporates electrical resistivity monitoring with a reflectometry trigger. The IPG is configured to determine both optically and electrically if migration occurs between the electrodes. If the light intensity variation in the optical trigger is greater than an optical threshold value, then the system will pause stimulation and conduct a resistivity test. A resistivity test is also conducted periodically in the absence of the reflectometry trigger to verify that no lead migration has occurred. The stimulation signal is automatically adjusted if a variation in resistivity values is detected above a resistivity threshold value. The resistivity threshold value is set above the normal variation that occurs due to routine movement of the spinal cord in the spinal canal.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A spinal stimulation system comprising:

a controller, having a processor and a memory;
a set of flexible leads, each lead of the set of flexible leads having an array of electrodes, connected to the controller;
and
the memory containing a set of instructions, that when executed, cause the spinal stimulation system to:
inject a first set of currents into the array of electrodes;
measure a first set of voltages resulting from the first set of currents;
derive a first resistance matrix based on the first set of currents and the first set of voltages;
inject a second set of currents into the array of electrodes;
measure a second set of voltages resulting from the second set of currents;
derive a second resistance matrix based on the second set of currents and the second set of voltages;
and
if a variation exists between the first resistance matrix and the second resistance matrix:
determine a set of stimulation currents based on the variation;
and
direct the set of stimulation currents to the array of electrodes.

12 more elements

A method for adjusting a spinal cord stimulation signal to compensate for lead migration, the method comprising:

delivering, by an implantable pulse generator, a stimulation signal to a spinal cord via an array of electrodes of a flexible lead implanted in an epidural space of a patient;
counting a number of stimulation signal epochs;
upon the number of stimulation signal epochs reaching a predetermined epoch count, pausing the stimulation signal and conducting a resistivity test comprising:
injecting a test current through a first subset of electrodes of the array of electrodes,
measuring a test voltage at a second subset of electrodes of the array of electrodes,
computing a test resistivity matrix based on the test current and the test voltage;
computing a difference matrix based on a comparison of the test resistivity matrix to a baseline resistivity matrix;
computing a percentage change matrix by dividing the difference matrix by the baseline resistivity matrix;
if at least one element of the percentage change matrix exceeds a resistivity threshold value, changing an amplitude of the stimulation signal to an adjusted amplitude, for each electrode of the array of electrodes by a percentage equal to a corresponding element of the percentage change matrix;
and
resuming the stimulation signal at the adjusted amplitude.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for reducing the effect of lead migration during spinal cord stimulation

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for reducing the effect of lead migration during spinal cord stimulation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20