Optimal multi-electrode transcutaneous stimulation with high focality and intensity
Methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed for optimization techniques and a realistic 3D model to design optimal parameters for transcutaneous stimulation to achieve focalized stimulation of a target tissue such as the spinal cord, brain or other internal organ. The methods, apparatus, and systems include generation of a 3D model from a CT/MRI image, as well as an optimization algorithm that enables stimulation of any target location (e.g., on the dorsal root, or on the dorsal column) with any orientation at high precision.
1 . A system comprising:
a stimulation array comprising multiple stimulation electrodes arranged in an array;
a stimulator circuit configured to provide independent stimulation signals to individual electrodes in the stimulator electrode array at a plurality of frequencies, intensities, and/or waveforms, wherein the independent stimulation signals are configured to modulate spinal cord circuits to improve/recover at last a portion of a network;
an external device comprising:
a non-transitory memory storing instructions, and
a processor configured to access the non-transitory memory and execute the instructions to at least:
receive one or more structural images of a target treatment region of a patient when the stimulation array is placed within the target treatment region;
generate a model of the target treatment region when the stimulation array is placed within the target treatment region based on the one or more structural images of the target treatment region;
determine a safety limit for transcutaneous stimulation of the target treatment region;
generate a set of stimulation parameters for a stimulation to be delivered by the multiple stimulation electrodes based on mapping the stimulation electrode array to the target treatment region and the safety limit; and
configure the stimulator circuit to operate utilizing the generated set of stimulation parameters to deliver the stimulation with the set of stimulation parameters to the patient transcutaneously.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor further executes the instructions to at least calculate, based on the model of the target treatment region, a lead field matrix associated with the stimulation electrode array and the target treatment region based on the mapping.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the model is a model of the target treatment region.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the model of the target treatment region is constructed based on one or more structural images of the target treatment region.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the model of the target treatment region is generated by:
segmenting the one or more structural images into different tissues according to tissue characteristics;
generating a target tissue model of the target treatment region for each of the different tissues;
constructing an electrode model based on the stimulation electrode array and the constructed target tissues model;
discretizing the target tissue model and electrode model into voxels to form a finite element model; and
calculating a lead field matrix of the finite element model.
6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising multiple connectors configured to serve as an interface between the stimulator circuit and the stimulation array.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the multiple connectors comprise at least one connector configured to plug into the stimulator circuit and at least two connectors configured to independently link to an individual electrode of the stimulation array.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the multiple connectors are configured to be secured to a patient and/or a patient's garment.