Dynamic compliance voltage management for an implantable stimulator

A method comprising:

• generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to be transmitted from the external control device to the implantable stimulator to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator;
• determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame;
• recording, by the external control device, an impedance of each of the one or more electrodes;
• determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level;
• and
• selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame;
• wherein the determining of the optimal compliance voltage comprises multiplying the determined maximum stimulation current level by the recorded impedance of an electrode included within the one or more electrodes through which the stimulation current having the maximum stimulation current level is to be delivered.

A method comprising:

• generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to be transmitted from the external control device to the implantable stimulator to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator;
• determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame;
• determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level;
• selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame;
• and
• periodically performing the generating of the calibration table.

A method comprising:

• generating, by an external control device selectively and communicatively coupled to an implantable stimulator each time the external control device is powered on or coupled to the implantable stimulator, a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to be transmitted from the external control device to the implantable stimulator to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator;
• determining, by the external control device, a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame;
• determining, by the external control device, an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level;
• and
• selecting, by the external control device in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame.

An apparatus comprising:

• a communication facility configured to transmit a power signal from an external control device to an implantable stimulator, the implantable stimulator being configured to derive a compliance voltage from the power signal;
• a calibration facility configured to generate a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to be transmitted from the external control device to the implantable stimulator to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator;
• and
• a compliance voltage facility configured to
• determine a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame,
• determine an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level, and
• select, in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame
• wherein the implantable stimulator comprises a plurality of current sources and wherein the calibration facility is configured to generate the calibration table by:
• directing the implantable stimulator to sequentially shunt a current path of each of the current sources through a shunt resistor;
• and
• recording, for each of a plurality of distinct number of fixed compliance voltages, a transmit power level required to maximize a stimulation current generated by each of the current sources while shunted.

An apparatus comprising:

• a communication facility configured to transmit a power signal from an external control device to an implantable stimulator, the implantable stimulator being configured to derive a compliance voltage from the power signal;
• a calibration facility configured to generate a calibration table indicating transmit power levels required to be transmitted from the external control device to the implantable stimulator to achieve a plurality of distinct combinations of compliance voltages and maximum stimulation current levels by the implantable stimulator;
• and
• a compliance voltage facility configured to
• determine a maximum stimulation current level to be delivered by the implantable stimulator via one or more electrodes to one or more stimulation sites within a patient during a stimulation frame,
• record an impedance of each of the one or more electrodes,
• determine an optimal compliance voltage that allows the implantable stimulator to deliver the determined maximum stimulation current level, and
• select, in accordance with the calibration table, a transmit power level that results in the implantable stimulator operating at the optimal compliance voltage during the stimulation frame;
• wherein the compliance voltage facility is further configured to determine the optimal compliance voltage by multiplying the determined maximum stimulation current level by the recorded impedance of an electrode included within the one or more electrodes through which the stimulation current having the maximum stimulation current level is to be delivered.