IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,642,970
Granted Patent B2
US 12,642,970 · App. 18/231,071 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Peripheral nerve stimulation control

Inventors: Gary W. King (Fridley, MN); Steven M. Goetz (North Oaks, MN); Andrew H. Houchins (Hugo, MN); Jeffrey T. Keacher (Stanford, CA); Jordan J. Greenberg (Blaine, MN); Kenneth T. Heruth (Edina, MN); Mark S. Lent (Brooklyn Park, MN); Paul W. Wacnik (Brookline, MA)
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
A61N1/36139A61N1/36057A61N1/36071
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,642,970
App. No.
18/231,071
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) may be controlled based on detected physiological effects of the PNFS, which may be an efferent response to the PNFS. In some examples, a closed-loop therapy system may include a sensing module that senses a physiological parameter of the patient, which may be indicative of the patient's response to the PNFS. Based on a signal generated by the sensing module, the PNFS may be activated, deactivated or modified. Example physiological parameters of the patient include heart rate, respiratory rate, electrodermal activity, muscle activity, blood flow rate, sweat gland activity, pilomotor reflex, or thermal activity of the patient's body. In some examples, a patient pain state may be detected based on a signal generated by the sensing module, and therapy may be controlled based on the detection of the pain state.

Claims (35)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving one or more signals indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a patient, wherein the one or more physiological parameters of the patient comprise at least one of a sweat gland activity, a pilomotor reflex, or a temperature sensed at a region of a body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain;

determining a patient pain state based on one or more characteristics of the one or more signals; and

based on the patient pain state, controlling delivery of peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation comprises initiating the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to determining the patient pain state, delivering the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient via at least one electrode implanted in the body of the patient, wherein controlling the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation comprises deactivating the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to determining the patient pain state, delivering the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient via at least one electrode implanted in the body of the patient, wherein controlling the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation comprises continuing the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation comprises modifying a therapy program based on the patient pain state.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation comprises selecting a therapy program based on the patient pain state.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving patient input indicating the patient pain state; and

associating the patient pain state with a characteristic of a signal of the one or more signals, wherein controlling the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation comprises detecting the characteristic of the signal.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the patient pain state comprises at least one of comparing a peak amplitude of at least one signal of the one or more signals to a threshold amplitude, comparing an average amplitude of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to the threshold amplitude, comparing a median amplitude of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to the threshold amplitude, comparing a trend in a waveform of the at least one signal of the one or more signals over time to a template, comparing a power level within one or more frequency bands of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to a threshold power level or comparing a ratio of power levels in two or more frequency bands of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to a threshold power level ratio.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physiological parameters further comprise at least one of a heart rate, a respiratory rate, electrodermal activity, muscle activity, a blood flow rate, or a core body temperature of the patient.

10 . A system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to generate one or more signals indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a patient, wherein the one or more physiological parameters of the patient comprise at least one of a sweat gland activity, a pilomotor reflex, or a temperature sensed at a region of a body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain;

a medical device configured to deliver peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient via at least one electrode implanted in the body of the patient; and

processing circuitry configured to receive the one or more signals from the one or more sensors, determine a patient pain state based on one or more characteristics of the one or more signals, and control the medical device to deliver the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient based on the determined patient pain state.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein to control the medical device to deliver the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient, the processing circuitry is configured to initiate delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation based on the determined patient pain state.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the medical device is configured to deliver the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient during a stimulation period, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the patient pain state after the stimulation period.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein to control the medical device to deliver the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient, the processing circuitry is configured to deactivate the delivery of the peripheral nerve stimulation based on the determined patient pain state.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein to control the medical device to deliver the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient, the processing circuitry is configured to modify a therapy program based on the determined patient pain state.

15 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a memory that stores a plurality of therapy programs and information associating at least two of the therapy programs with different patient pain states, wherein to control the medical device to deliver the peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient, the processing circuitry is configured to select at least one therapy program of the plurality of therapy programs stored in the memory based on the patient pain state.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to receive patient input indicating the patient pain state and associate the patient pain state with a characteristic of a signal of the one or more signals.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein to determine the patient pain state, the processing circuitry is configured to at least one of: compare a peak amplitude of at least one signal of the one or more signals to a threshold amplitude, compare an average amplitude of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to the threshold amplitude, compare a median amplitude of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to the threshold amplitude, compare a trend in a waveform of the at least one signal of the one or more signals over time to a template, compare a power level within one or more frequency bands of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to a threshold power level, or compare a ratio of power levels in two or more frequency bands of the at least one signal of the one or more signals to a threshold power level ratio.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more physiological parameters further comprise at least one of a heart rate, a respiratory rate, electrodermal activity, muscle activity, a blood flow rate, or a core body temperature of the patient.

19 . Non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions, which, when executed cause processing circuitry to:

receive one or more signals indicative of one or more physiological parameters of a patient, wherein the one or more physiological parameters of the patient comprise at least one of a sweat gland activity, a pilomotor reflex, or a temperature sensed at a region of a body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain;

determine a patient pain state based on one or more characteristics of the one or more signals; and

control delivery of peripheral nerve stimulation to the body of the patient based on the patient pain state, wherein the peripheral nerve stimulation is delivered via at least one electrode implanted in the body of the patient.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 ,

wherein the instructions further cause the processing circuitry to:

receive patient input indicating the patient pain state;

detect one or more characteristics of the one or more signals; and

associate the patient pain state with the one or more characteristics of the one or more signals.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2023
From: KING, GARY W.; GOETZ, STEVEN M.; HOUCHINS, ANDREW H.; KEACHER, JEFFREY T.; GREENBERG, JORDAN J.; HERUTH, KENNETH T.; LENT, MARK S.; WACNIK, PAUL W.
To: MEDTRONIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 064513/0265 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16985955 · Aug 5, 2020
Division 14454427 · Aug 7, 2014
Continuation 12359001 · Jan 23, 2009
Provisional Application 61051955 · May 9, 2008
Related Publication 20230381520A1 · Nov 30, 2023
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