US 7,496,404 B2Granted

Rechargeable spinal cord stimulator system

AssigneeBoston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

InventorsPaul M Meadows, Carla M Woods, David K Peterson, Joey Chen, David H Payne

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Abstract

A spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system includes multiple electrodes, multiple, independently programmable, stimulation channels within an implantable pulse generator (IPG) which channels can provide concurrent, but unique stimulation fields, permitting virtual electrodes to be realized. The SCS system includes a replenishable power source (e.g., rechargeable battery), that may be recharged using transcutaneous power transmissions between antenna coil pairs. An external charger unit, having its own rechargeable battery can be used to charge the IPG replenishable power source. A real-time clock can provide an auto-run schedule for daily stimulation. An included bi-directional telemetry link in the system informs the patient or clinician the status of the system, including the state of charge of the IPG battery. Other processing circuitry in the IPG allows electrode impedance measurements to be made. Further circuitry in the external battery charger can provide alignment detection for the coil pairs.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A spinal cord stimulation system comprising:

an implantable pulse generator (IPG) including at least one integrated circuit (IC) that when powered allows the IPG to generate electrical stimuli, the IPG having a housing;
a replenishable power source contained within the IPG housing;
an implantable electrode array detachably connected to the IPG, the electrode array having at least two electrodes thereon;
wherein the electrical stimuli generated by the IPG are selectively delivered to at least one of the electrodes on the electrode array as controlled, at least in part, by electrical circuitry contained within the IC;
an implantable secondary coil coupled electrically to the replenishable power source;
an external power source charger including:
a primary coil;
an external power source contained in the charger, electrically coupled to the primary coil;
and
a power amplifier that applies alternating current derived from the external power source to the primary coil, whereby the alternating current in the primary coil induces a magnetic field that is transcutaneously coupled to the implantable secondary coil, thereby inducing a corresponding alternating current in the secondary coil, which alternating current in the secondary coil initiates a power-up sequence for a powered-down IPG and recharges the replenishable power source contained in the IPG;
a power source replenishing system housed within the IPG, including:
a rectifier circuit that converts the alternating current induced in the secondary coil to a dc current that is applied to the replenishable power source;
power source protection circuitry for controlling electrical connection and disconnection between the replenishable power source and the at least one IC included within the IPG;
whereby the power source protection circuitry allows connection between the replenishable power source and the at least one IC upon transcutaneous transfer of power from the external power source to the replenishable power source;
alignment circuitry for detecting alignment between the primary and secondary coils, the alignment circuitry including a back telemetry receiver for monitoring the magnitude of an ac voltage at the primary coil as applied by the power amplifier, wherein reflected impedance associated with energy magnetically coupled through the primary coil is monitored;
and
an alarm generator that generates an audible alarm signal in response to a sensed change in the reflected impedance monitored by the back telemetry receiver.

14 more elements

A spinal cord stimulation system, comprising:

an implantable pulse generator (IPG) including at least one integrated circuit (IC) that when powered allows the IPG to generate electrical stimuli, the IPG having a housing;
a replenishable power source contained within the IPG housing;
an implantable electrode array detachably connected to the IPG, the electrode array having at least two electrodes thereon;
wherein the electrical stimuli generated by the IPG are selectively delivered to at least one of the electrodes on the electrode array as controlled, at least in part, by electrical circuitry contained within the IC;
an implantable secondary coil coupled electrically to the replenishable power source;
an external power source charger including:
a primary coil;
an external power source contained in the charger, electrically coupled to the primary coil;
and
a power amplifier that applies alternating current derived from the external power source to the primary coil, whereby the alternating current in the primary coil induces a magnetic field that is transcutaneously coupled to the implantable secondary coil, thereby inducing a corresponding alternating current in the secondary coil, which alternating current in the secondary coil initiates a power-up sequence for a powered-down IPG and recharges the replenishable power source contained in the IPG;
a power source replenishing system housed within the IPG, including:
a rectifier circuit that converts the alternating current induced in the secondary coil to a dc current that is applied to the replenishable power source;
and
power source protection circuitry for controlling electrical connection and disconnection between the replenishable power source and the at least one IC included within the IPG;
whereby the power source protection circuitry allows connection between the replenishable power source and the at least one IC upon transcutaneous transfer of power from the external power source to the replenishable power source;
wherein the power source replenishment system within the IPG further comprises:
monitoring and replenishment complete circuitry that detects when the replenishable power source is fully replenished, said monitoring and replenishment complete circuitry comprising:
monitoring circuitry that monitors the voltage of the replenishable power source and any charging current flowing to the replenishable power source;
and
replenishment charge complete detection circuitry;
wherein the monitoring circuitry generates a signal flag when the replenishable power source voltage and charging current reach prescribed levels, which prescribed levels indicate the replenishable power source is fully replenished;
wherein the rectifier circuit is switchable between a full-wave rectifier circuit and a half-wave rectifier circuit;
wherein the rectifier circuit is switched to operate as the full-wave rectifier circuit during replenishment of the replenishable power source, and wherein the signal flag causes the rectifier circuit to switch to a half-wave rectifier circuit when the replenishable power source is fully replenished, whereby modulation of the rectifier circuit between a full-wave rectifier circuit and a half-wave rectifier circuit is used to indicate whether the replenishable power source is fully replenished;
and
wherein the replenishment complete detection circuitry detects the switching of the rectifier circuit from a full-wave rectifier circuit to a half-wave rectifier circuit by detecting the change in reflected impedance sensed at the primary coil.

22 more elements

A spinal cord stimulation system comprising:

an implantable pulse generator (IPG), the IPG having a housing;
an implantable electrode array detachably connected to the IPG, the electrode array having at least two electrodes thereon;
a rechargeable power source contained within the IPG housing;
monitoring circuitry contained in the IPG housing that monitors the voltage of the rechargeable power source and any charging current flowing to the rechargeable power source;
at least one integrated circuit (IC) within the IPG housing and electrically couplable to the rechargeable power source, said at least one IC, when coupled to the rechargeable power source, providing essential control functions that allow the IPG to operate;
a processor electrically coupled to the at least one IC and contained within the IPG housing which issues commands to stop all stimulation if the voltage of the rechargeable power source falls below a minimum level for stimulation;
power source protection circuitry within the IPG housing that controls electrical connection and disconnection between the rechargeable power source and the at least one IC, wherein the power source protection circuitry disconnects the rechargeable power source from the at least one IC if the voltage of the rechargeable power source falls below a power disconnect level, and reconnects the rechargeable power source and the at least one IC if the voltage of the rechargeable power source rises above a power reconnect level,
wherein the processor initiates a power-on-reset if the voltage of the rechargeable power source rises above a reset threshold;
and
wherein the processor reinitiates stimulation if the voltage of the rechargeable power source rises above the minimum level for stimulation.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/009,508Filed 10 Dec 2004 · continuation
Priority: 27 Jul 1999
Published: US 2005/0107841 A119 May 2005
Granted: 24 Feb 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61N 1/37252
Means for communicating with stimulators: details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific…
A61N 1/0553
Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes: paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
A61N 1/36071
Adapted for a particular treatment: pain
A61N 1/36185
Direction of the electrical field, e.g. with sleeve around stimulating electrode: selection of the electrode configuration

Family

Application60/145,829Us provisional application · filed 27 Jul 1999
Application09/626,010Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Jul 2000
Application10/307,098Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Nov 2002
US 2005/0107841 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 May 2005
US 6,895,280 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,516,227 B1Parent of this continuation
US 2003/0120323 A1Published application
US 7,496,404 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.