OPEN LOOP DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION SYSTEM FOR THE TREATMENT OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE OR OTHER DISORDERS
A deep brain stimulation (DBS) system ( 10 ) provides a multiplicity of stimulation channels through which electrical stimuli may be delivered deep within the brain of a patient. The DBS system is powered by a rechargeable battery ( 27 ) . In one embodiment, the system has four channels driving sixteen electrodes ( 32 ). The DBS system is easily programmed for use by a clinician using a clinician programming system ( 60 ), and further affords a simple but highly advanced hand held programmer ( 50 ) control interface through which the patient may easily change stimulation parameters within acceptable limits. The DBS system ( 10 ) includes a small, implantable pulse generator ( 20 ) that is small enough to be implanted directly in the cranium of the patient, thereby eliminating the long lead wires and tunneling procedures that have been used in the past. The implantable pulse generator provides electrical stimuli in an open-loop fashion as defined by the stimulation parameters. Further, the DBS system allows up to two electrode arrays ( 30, 30′ ) to be attached to the implantable pulse generator ( 20 ), thereby eliminating the requirement for implanting two independent implantable pulse generators for bilateral stimulation of deep brain structures.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A multichannel deep brain stimulation system, comprising:
a multi-channel implantable pulse generator sized to be implanted directly within a cranium of a patient, the implantable pulse generator configured for storing a program containing stimulation parameters and generating electrical stimuli in an open-loop manner in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and
a hand-held programmer configured for allowing the patient to change at least one of the stimulation parameters contained within the stored program.
22 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , further comprising at least one electrode array connected to the implantable pulse generator, wherein the electrode array is sized to be implanted directly within the cranium of the patient, and the implantable pulse generator is configured for applying the generated electrical stimuli to tissue via the at least one electrode array.
23 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one electrode array is capacitively coupled to the implantable pulse generator.
24 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 22 , wherein the at least one electrode array comprises two electrode arrays, and wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured for bilaterally applying the generated electrical stimulus to tissue via the two electrode arrays.
25 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 24 , wherein each of the electrode arrays includes at least two electrodes.
26 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , further comprising a rechargeable battery coupled to the implantable pulse generator, and an external battery charging system.
27 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , further comprising a manufacturing and diagnostic system configured for being coupled to the implantable pulse generator via radio frequency (RF) communication.
28 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 27 , wherein the manufacturing and diagnostic system is further configured for being coupled to the hand-held programmer via infrared communication.
29 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , further comprising a clinician programmer configured for being coupled to the implantable pulse generator through the hand-held programmer via infrared or RF communication.
30 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , wherein the hand-held programmer is configured for communicating with the implantable pulse generator at a distance of up to 2 feet.
31 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , wherein the implantable pulse generator has at least four channels.
32 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises a pulse amplitude.
33 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises a pulse width.
34 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises a pulse shape.
35 . The deep brain stimulation system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises a pulse frequency.