Apparatus for delivering enhanced stimulation waveforms
An apparatus for delivering stimulation to a patient is provided. The apparatus includes an external system for transmitting one or more transmission signals and having at least one antenna, a transmitter, a power supply, and a controller. The apparatus further includes an implantable system for receiving the one or more transmission signals and having at least one antenna, a receiver, at least one stimulation element, a controller, and an energy storage assembly. The at least one stimulation element delivers stimulation energy to tissue of the patient. Methods of delivering stimulation energy are also provided.
1 . A method for treating pain of a patient using a stimulation system, comprising:
receiving, via a user interface of the stimulation system, a target stimulation location for the patient, wherein the target stimulation location comprises a nerve bundle within a peripheral nervous system (PNS) of the patient;
configuring, via a microprocessor of the stimulation system and based on the received target stimulation location, each of a first electrode and a third electrode of a first plurality of electrodes as an anode, and a second electrode of a second plurality of electrodes as a cathode, wherein the first plurality of electrodes is on a first lead of the stimulation system and the second plurality of electrodes is on a second lead of the stimulation system;
adjusting, via the microprocessor, a proportion of stimulation current assigned to the first electrode to direct current through the nerve bundle in the target stimulation location; and
delivering the stimulation current to the target stimulation location using a first current source coupled to the first electrode and a second current source coupled to the third electrode.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second leads is positioned adjacent to the nerve bundle.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second leads is positioned such that a current density along a circumference of the nerve bundle is skewed to steer the stimulation current to specific regions of the nerve bundle.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the first and second electrodes comprises receiving, via the user interface, a vertical separation and a horizontal separation between the first and second leads.
5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising configuring, using the vertical and horizontal separations, a polarity and an anode percentage value for each of the first and third electrodes.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the vertical separation received is a distance within a defined range and the method further comprises, after receiving the vertical separation, initiating an automatic current steering mode for the stimulation system.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the defined range is 0 mm to 49 mm.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring the first and third electrodes comprises receiving a configuration of the first and third electrodes via a graphical representation provided by the user interface, wherein the graphical representation comprises each electrode of the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the configuration comprises a geometric shape comprising the first electrode.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the geometric shape comprises a line, a triangle, or a square.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein adjusting the proportion of stimulation current comprises:
receiving, via the user interface, a point within the geometric shape; and
determining the proportion of stimulation current based on a distance between the point and the first and third electrodes.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the graphical representation further comprises the anatomy of the patient at the target stimulation location.
13 . A system for treating pain, comprising:
an implantable device configured to deliver stimulation to a patient via a first plurality of electrodes of a first lead and a second plurality of electrodes of a second lead, wherein the first and second leads are positioned adjacent to a nerve bundle; and
a user interface configured to provide a graphical representation of the first and second plurality of electrodes, and to receive a target stimulation location including the nerve bundle, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a geometric shape comprising a first electrode of the first plurality of electrodes,
wherein the system is configured to:
configure, via a microprocessor of the system and based on the received target stimulation location, the first electrode as an anode, and a second electrode of the second plurality of electrodes as a cathode;
adjust, via the microprocessor, a proportion of stimulation current assigned to the first electrode to direct current through the nerve bundle in the target stimulation location, wherein, to adjust the proportion of stimulation current assigned to the first electrode, the system is configured to receive, via the user interface, a point within the geometric shape, and determine the proportion of stimulation current based on a distance between the point and the first electrode; and
deliver the stimulation current to the target stimulation location.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the nerve bundle is within a peripheral nervous system (PNS) of the patient.
15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the geometric shape comprises a line, a triangle, or a square.
16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the graphical representation further comprises the anatomy of the patient at the target stimulation location.