STIMULATION DESIGN FOR NEUROMODULATION
The present application relates to a new stimulation design which can be utilized to treat neurological conditions. The stimulation system produces a burst mode stimulation which alters the neuronal activity of the predetermined site, thereby treating the neurological condition or disorder. The burst stimulus comprises a plurality of groups of spike pulses having a maximum inter-spike interval of 100 milliseconds. The burst stimulus is separated by a substantially quiescent period of time between the plurality of groups of spike pulses. This inter-group interval may comprise a minimum of 5 seconds.
1 . A method of stimulating nerve tissue of a patient using an implantable pulse generator, the method comprising:
generating, by the implantable pulse generator, a burst stimulus that comprises a plurality of groups of spike pulses, wherein the burst stimulus is substantially quiescent between the plurality of groups, wherein each spike within each group is separated by a maximum inter-spike interval and each group of spikes is separated by a minimum inter-group interval, wherein the maximum inter-spike interval is 5 milliseconds and the minimum inter-group interval is 20 milliseconds;
providing the burst stimulus from the implantable pulse generator to a medical lead; and
applying the burst stimulus to nerve tissue of the patient via one or several electrodes of the medical lead.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling a number of spikes within a group of spikes of the burst stimulus according a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling a spike amplitude according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling an inter-spike interval according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling an inter-group interval according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling a number of groups within the burst stimulus according to a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: generating a hyperpolarizing pulse immediately before each group of spikes within the burst stimulus.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein an amplitude of the hyperpolarizing pulse is controllable by a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising: detecting, by the implantable pulse generator, hyperactivity within neural tissue using a sensor in the implantable pulse generator, wherein the generating the burst stimulus occurs in response to the detecting.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor is coupled to one or several electrodes of the medical lead.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein each spike in each group occurs from a plateau potential.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the plateau potential is controllable by a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is an autonomic nervous system disorder or an immunological disorder.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the autonomic nervous system disorder is hypertension, heart rhythm disorders or sleep apnea.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is obesity.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder comprises a regular bursting rhythm.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the disorder is Parkinson's, epilepsy, tinnitus or phantom pain.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder comprises an irregular bursting rhythm.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the disorder is dystonia or chorea.