Implanted pulse generators with reduced power consumption via signal strength/duration characteristics, and associated systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017036023-A1
Application number	US-201615227821-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 3, 2016
Priority date	May 20, 2014
Publication date	Feb 9, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Implanted pulse generators with reduced power consumption via signal strength-duration characteristics, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative method for treating a patient in accordance with the disclosed technology includes receiving an input corresponding to an available voltage for an implanted medical device and identifying a signal delivery parameter value of an electrical signal based on a correlation between values of the signal delivery parameter and signal deliver amplitudes. The signal deliver parameter can include at least one of pulse width or duty cycle. The method can further include delivering an electrical therapy signal to the patient at the identified signal delivery parameter value using a voltage within a margin of the available voltage.

First claim

1 .- 69 . (canceled)

70 . A patient therapy system, comprising:
a pulse generator configured to deliver an electrical therapy signal to a patient; and a processor operatively coupled to the pulse generator and configured to:
receive an input corresponding to an available voltage for the pulse generator;
identify a signal delivery parameter value of an electrical signal based on a correlation between values of the signal delivery parameter and signal delivery amplitudes, wherein the signal delivery parameter includes at least one of pulse width or duty cycle, wherein the identified signal delivery parameter value is increased in response to a decrease in available voltage; and
direct the pulse generator to deliver an electrical therapy signal at the identified signal delivery parameter value using a voltage within a margin of the available voltage.

71 . The system of claim 70 wherein the electrical therapy signal has a frequency of from 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz.

72 . The system of claim 70 wherein the signal delivery parameter is pulse width.

73 . The system of claim 70 wherein the signal delivery parameter is duty cycle.

74 . The system of claim 70 wherein the available voltage is an output voltage of a battery that provides power for the electrical therapy signal.

75 . The system of claim 70 , further comprising a signal delivery element coupled to the pulse generator to deliver the electrical therapy signal to a patient.

76 . The system of claim 70 wherein the processor and the pulse generator are housed in a patient-implantable device.

77 . The system of claim 70 wherein the pulse generator is housed in a patient-implantable device, and the processor is housed in an external device.

78 . The system of claim 70 , further comprising a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, and wherein the instructions are carried by the computer-readable medium.

79 . The system of claim 70 wherein the pulse generator is programmed with instructions for delivering the electrical therapy signal at a pulse width of from 10 microseconds to 333 microseconds.

80 . The system of claim 70 wherein the processor is programmed with instructions that, when executed:
receive at least one input corresponding to a target therapy amplitude and a target pulse width;
determine that the available voltage is insufficient to supply a therapy signal at the target therapy amplitude and the target pulse width;
identify an updated therapy amplitude less than the target therapy amplitude;
based at least in part on the updated therapy amplitude and the correlation, identify an updated pulse width greater than the target pulse width; and
deliver the electrical therapy signal to the patient at the updated therapy amplitude and the updated pulse width.

81 . The system of claim 80 further comprising:
determining if the updated pulse width can be delivered at the target frequency; and
if the updated pulse width cannot be delivered at the target frequency, updating the target frequency.

82 . A patient therapy system, comprising:
a pulse generator configured to deliver an electrical therapy signal to a patient at a frequency of from 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz; and a processor operatively coupled to the pulse generator and configured to:
receive an input corresponding to an available voltage for the pulse generator;
identify a signal delivery parameter value of an electrical signal based on a correlation between values of the signal delivery parameter and signal delivery amplitudes, wherein the signal delivery parameter includes at least one of pulse width or duty cycle; and
direct the pulse generator to deliver an electrical therapy signal at the identified signal delivery parameter value using a voltage within a margin of the available voltage.

83 . The system of claim 82 wherein the signal delivery parameter is pulse width.

84 . The system of claim 82 wherein the signal delivery parameter is duty cycle.

85 . The system of claim 82 wherein the available voltage is an output voltage of a battery that provides power for the electrical therapy signal.

86 . The system of claim 82 , further comprising a signal delivery element coupled to the pulse generator to deliver the electrical therapy signal to a patient.

87 . The system of claim 82 wherein the processor and the pulse generator are housed in a patient-implantable device.

88 . The system of claim 82 wherein the pulse generator is housed in a patient-implantable device, and the processor is housed in an external device.

89 . The system of claim 82 , further comprising a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, and wherein the instructions are carried by the computer-readable medium.

90 . The system of claim 82 wherein the pulse generator is programmed with instructions for delivering the electrical therapy signal at a pulse width of from 10 microseconds to 333 microseconds.

91 . The system of claim 82 wherein the processor is programmed with instructions that, when executed:
receive at least one input corresponding to a target therapy amplitude and a target pulse width;
determine that the available voltage is insufficient to supply a therapy signal at the target therapy amplitude and the target pulse width;
identify an updated therapy amplitude less than the target therapy amplitude;
based at least in part on the updated therapy amplitude and the correlation, identify an updated pulse width greater than the target pulse width; and
deliver the electrical therapy signal to the patient at the updated therapy amplitude and the updated pulse width.

92 . The system of claim 91 , further comprising:
determining if the updated pulse width can be delivered at the target frequency; and if the updated pulse width cannot be delivered at the target frequency, updating the target frequency.

93 . A method for treating a patient, comprising:
configuring a pulse generator to:
receive an input corresponding to an available voltage for an implanted medical device;
identify a signal delivery parameter value of an electrical signal based on a correlation between values of the signal delivery parameter and signal delivery amplitudes, wherein the signal delivery parameter includes at least one of pulse width or duty cycle, and wherein the identified signal delivery parameter value is increased in response to a decrease in available voltage; and
deliver an electrical therapy signal to the patient at the identified signal delivery parameter value using a voltage within a margin of the available voltage.

94 . The method of claim 93 wherein the signal delivery parameter is pulse width.

95 . The method of claim 93 wherein the signal delivery parameter is duty cycle.

96 . The method of claim 93 wherein the available voltage is an output voltage of a battery that provides power for the electrical therapy signal.

97 . The method of claim 93 , further comprising:
programming the pulse generator to: receive at least one input corresponding to a target therapy amplitude and a target pulse width; determine that the available voltage is insufficient to supply a therapy signal at the target therapy amplitude and the target pulse width; identify an updated therapy amplitude less than the target therapy amplitude; based at least in part on the updated thera

Assignees

• Nevro Corp

Inventors

• Parker Jon

Classifications

• A61N1/3708

  for power depletion · CPC title

• A61N1/36171

  Frequency · CPC title

• A61N1/36175

  Pulse width or duty cycle · CPC title

• A61N1/36071 Primary

  Pain · CPC title

• A61N1/36125

  Details of circuitry or electric components · CPC title