Methods to avoid frequency locking in a multi-channel neurostimulation system using pulse shifting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9724513-B2
Application number	US-55021309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2009
Priority date	Aug 28, 2009
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms are temporally shifted in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating a patient using a multi-channel neurostimulation system, the method comprising:
delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient;
predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and
temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises alternately shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set between the timing channels.

2. A method for treating a patient using a multi-channel neurostimulation system, the method comprising:
delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient;
predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and
temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises:
temporally shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set forward; and
temporally shifting another of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set backward.

3. A method for treating a patient using a multi-channel neurostimulation system, the method comprising:
delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient;
predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and
temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises:
determining which pulse of each potentially overlapping pulse set would need to be shifted the least to prevent overlapping of the stimulation pulses within the respective potentially overlapping pulse set; and
temporally shifting the determined pulse of each potentially overlapping pulse set.

4. A method for treating a patient using a multi-channel neurostimulation system, the method comprising:
delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient;
predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and
temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises:
determining sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will not potentially overlap temporally; and
temporally shifting at least one pulse in each of the non-overlapping pulse sets.

5. A method for treating a patient using a multi-channel neurostimulation system, the method comprising:
delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient;
predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally; and
temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms comprises temporally shifting at least one pulse in each potentially overlapping pulse set a random amount.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining the random amount by multiplying a nominal pulse shift by a randomization variable.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising limiting the random amount that differs from the nominal pulse shift.

8. A multi-channel neurostimulation system, comprising:
a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes;
analog output circuitry configured for delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels to the electrical terminals; and
control circuitry configured for predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally, and temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein the control circuitry is configured for shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms by alternately shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set between the timing channels.

9. A multi-channel neurostimulation system, comprising:
a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes;
analog output circuitry configured for delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels to the electrical terminals; and
control circuitry configured for predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally, and temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein the control circuitry is configured for temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical by temporally shifting one of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set forward, and temporally shifting another of the stimulation pulses of each potentially overlapping pulse set backward.

10. A multi-channel neurostimulation system, comprising:
a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes;
analog output circuitry configured for delivering a plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms respectively within a plurality of timing channels to the electrical terminals; and
control circuitry configured for predicting sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally, and temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels, wherein the control circuitry is configured for temporally shifting stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms by determining whic

Assignees

• Lane Courtney
• Carbunaru Rafael
• Bradley Kerry
• Peterson David K L
• Digiore Andrew
• Moffitt Michael
• Boston Scient Neuromodulation Corp

Inventors

• Lane Courtney
• Carbunaru Rafael
• Bradley Kerry
• Peterson David K L
• Digiore Andrew
• Moffitt Michael

Classifications

• A61N1/36071 Primary

  Pain · CPC title

• A61N1/36082

  Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease · CPC title

• A61B5/1118

  Determining activity level · CPC title

• A61B5/02405

  Determining heart rate variability · CPC title

• A61N1/36025

  for treating a mental or cerebral condition · CPC title