Neuromodulation using energy-efficient waveforms
AssigneeIntelect Medical, Inc.
InventorsRandall York, Scott Kokones, Keith Carlton, Alan Greszler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of neuromodulation in a live mammalian subject, such as a human patient. The method comprises applying an electrical signal to a target site in the nervous system, such as the brain, where the electrical signal comprises a series of pulses. The pulses includes a waveform shape that is more energy-efficient as compared to a corresponding rectangular waveform. Non-limiting examples of such energy-efficient waveforms include linear increasing, linear decreasing, exponential increasing, exponential decreasing, and Gaussian waveforms. Also described are apparatuses for neuromodulation and software for operating such apparatuses.
Claims22
A neuromodulation method comprising:
- applying an electrical signal to an anatomical site, wherein:
- the electrical signal comprises a first phase and a second phase immediately following the first phase;
- the electrical signal is anodic in one of the first and second phases and cathodic in the other of the first and second phases;
- and
- a waveform of the electrical signal in each of the first and second phases is entirely defined by one of an exponential increasing function and an exponential decreasing function.
A neuromodulation method comprising:
- executing, by an electrical signal generator, a program defining a function to produce an electrical stimulation signal whose waveform corresponds to the program-defined function, wherein the function is one of an exponential increasing function, an exponential decreasing function, and a Gaussian function.
A neuromodulation method comprising:
- applying an electrical signal to an anatomical site, the electrical signal including a cathodic pulse and an anodic pulse, wherein a peak amplitude of the anodic pulse is less than a peak amplitude of the cathodic pulse.
A neuromodulation method comprising:
- in a stimulation session, electrically stimulating an anatomical site by executing a stimulation program that defines for the stimulation session one or more waveforms of electrical stimulation signals by one, and not the other, of a linear increasing function and a linear decreasing function.
A neuromodulation method comprising:
- applying an electrical signal to an anatomical site, wherein a waveform of the electrical signal includes one of (a) a sharp increase to a maximum amplitude of the signal followed by a gradual decrease of the amplitude and (b) a gradual increase to the maximum amplitude followed by a sharp decrease of the amplitude.
A neuromodulation apparatus comprising:
- an electrode comprising an electrode contact;
- and
- implantable pulse generator coupled to the electrode and including a processor and a storage medium in which is stored a program which, when executed, causes the processor to generate an electrical signal using the electrode and for stimulating an anatomical site, wherein at least one of:
- (a) the generation of the electrical signal is in accordance with a waveform function defined in the program, the function being one of an exponential increasing function, an exponential decreasing function, and a Gaussian function;
- (b) the electrical signal includes a cathodic pulse and an anodic pulse, a peak amplitude of the anodic pulse being less than a peak amplitude of the cathodic pulse;
- (c) the generation of the signal is in a stimulation session, the program defining for the stimulation session one or more waveforms of electrical stimulation signals by one, and not the other, of a linear increasing function and a linear decreasing function;
- (d) a waveform of the electrical signal includes one of (i) a sharp increase to a maximum amplitude of the signal followed by a gradual decrease of the amplitude and (ii) a gradual increase to the maximum amplitude followed by a sharp decrease of the amplitude;
- and
- (e) the electrical signal:
- comprises a first phase and a second phase immediately following the first phase;
- is anodic in one of the first and second phases and cathodic in the other of the first and second phases;
- and
- is, in each of the first and second phases, of a respective waveform entirely defined by one of the exponential increasing function and the exponential decreasing function.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a program executable by a processor, the program which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform a neuromodulation method, the method comprising:
- generating an electrical signal using an implanted electrode and for stimulating an anatomical site, wherein at least one of:
- (a) the generation of the electrical signal is in accordance with a waveform function defined in the program, the function being one of an exponential increasing function, an exponential decreasing function, and a Gaussian function;
- (b) the electrical signal includes a cathodic pulse and an anodic pulse, a peak amplitude of the anodic pulse being less than a peak amplitude of the cathodic pulse;
- (c) the generation of the signal is in a stimulation session, the program defining for the stimulation session one or more waveforms of electrical stimulation signals by one, and not the other, of a linear increasing function and a linear decreasing function;
- (d) a waveform of the electrical signal includes one of (i) a sharp increase to a maximum amplitude of the signal followed by a gradual decrease of the amplitude and (ii) a gradual increase to the maximum amplitude followed by a sharp decrease of the amplitude;
- and
- (e) the electrical signal:
- comprises a first phase and a second phase immediately following the first phase;
- is anodic in one of the first and second phases and cathodic in the other of the first and second phases;
- and
- is, in each of the first and second phases, of a respective waveform entirely defined by one of the exponential increasing function and the exponential decreasing function.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.