Deep brain stimulation current steering with split electrodes

1. An implantable stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising:

a plurality of sets of segmented electrodes spaced apart axially along the longitudinal surface of the lead body, each set comprising at least three segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead body at a longitudinal position along the lead body, and

a tip electrode disposed at, and covering, the distal end of the lead body;

wherein each of off the plurality of electrodes is configured and arranged to be individually coupleable to different stimulation channels of a control module and to be independently programmable to provide current steering.

2. The lead of claim 1 , wherein each of the sets of segmented electrodes consists of three segmented electrodes.

3. The lead of claim 1 , wherein each of the sets of segmented electrodes have a same number of segmented electrodes.

4. The lead of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of sets comprises a first set and a second set, wherein the segmented electrodes of the first set are aligned with the segmented electrodes of the second set along the longitudinal surface of the lead body.

5. The lead of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of sets comprises a first set and a second set, wherein the segmented electrodes of the first set are staggered with respect to the segmented electrodes of the second set along the longitudinal surface of the lead body.

6. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the lead is configured and arranged for implantation in a brain of a human.

7. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sets of segmented electrodes comprises at least three sets of segmented electrodes.

8. An implantable stimulation system, comprising:

the lead of claim 1 ; and

a control module coupleable to the lead.

9. The implantable stimulation system of claim 8 , wherein the control module is a constant-current device.

10. An implantable stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end and a distal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising:

a plurality of sets of segmented electrodes spaced apart axially along the longitudinal surface of the lead body and comprising first and second sets of segmented electrodes, each set comprising at least three segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead body at a longitudinal position along the lead body, and

a first ring electrode disposed proximal to all of the sets of segmented electrodes;

wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is configured and arranged to be individually coupleable to different stimulation channels of a control module and to be independently programmable to provide current steering and wherein the first and second sets of segmented electrodes have a same number of segmented electrodes.

11. The lead of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electrodes further comprises a second ring electrode disposed distal to all of the sets of segmented electrodes.

12. The lead of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of sets of segmented electrodes comprises at least three sets of segmented electrodes.

13. The lead of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of sets consists of five sets containing three segmented electrodes each and the plurality of electrodes is arranged in a 3-3-3-3-3-1 arrangement.

14. An implantable stimulation system, comprising:

the lead of claim 10 ; and

a control module coupleable to the lead.

15. The implantable stimulation system of claim 14 , wherein the control module is a constant-current device.

16. An implantable stimulation lead, comprising:

a lead body having a longitudinal surface, a proximal end, and a distal end; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body, the plurality of electrodes comprising at least four sets of segmented electrodes spaced apart axially along the longitudinal surface of the lead body, each set comprising at least two segmented electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead body at a longitudinal position along the lead body;

wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is configured and arranged to be individually coupleable to different stimulation channels of a control module and to be independently programmable to provide current steering.

17. The implantable stimulation lead of claim 16 , wherein the at least four sets of segmented electrodes are arranged in a 4-4-4-4 or 2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2 arrangement.

18. A method for brain stimulation, the method comprising:

inserting the lead of claim 1 into a brain of a human;

coupling the lead to a control module; and

generating electrical signals, using the control module, at one or more of the plurality of electrodes to stimulate at least one target neuron of the brain.

19. A method for brain stimulation, the method comprising:

inserting the lead of claim 10 into a brain of a human;

coupling the lead to a control module; and

generating electrical signals, using the control module, at one or more of the plurality of electrodes to stimulate at least one target neuron of the brain.

20. A method for brain stimulation, the method comprising:

inserting the lead of claim 16 into a brain of a human;

coupling the lead to a control module; and

generating electrical signals, using the control module, at one or more of the plurality of electrodes to stimulate at least one target neuron of the brain.