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 to treat a neurological disorder 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 with a substantially quiescent period between each group in the plurality of groups, wherein (i) each group of spikes begins and ends at a reference amplitude level, (ii) the burst stimulus is maintained at or above an amplitude level greater than the reference amplitude level between spikes within a respective group of the plurality of spikes, (iii) each spike within each group is separated by a maximum inter-spike interval of 5 milliseconds, and (iv) each group is separated by a minimum inter-group interval of 20 milliseconds;
providing the burst stimulus from the implantable pulse generator to a medical lead; and
applying the burst stimulus to the 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 maximum 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 controlled 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 the amplitude level between spikes within an individual group is controllable by a parameter stored in the implantable pulse generator.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is chronic pain.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is hypertension, heart rhythm disorders or sleep apnea.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is obesity.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is Parkinson's, epilepsy, tinnitus or phantom pain.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is dystonia or chorea.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve tissue is peripheral nerve tissue.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein the nerve tissue is brain tissue, spinal cord tissue, or brainstem tissue.