Architectures for sharing of current sources in an implantable medical device

摘要

A group select matrix is added to an implantable stimulator device to allow current sources to be dedicated to particular groups of electrodes at a given time. The group select matrix can time multiplex the current sources to the different groups of electrodes to allow therapy pulses to be delivered at the various groups of electrodes in an interleaved fashion. Each of the groups of electrodes may be confined to a particular electrode array implantable at a particular non-overlapping location in a patient's body. A switch matrix can be used in conjunction with the group select matrix to provide further flexibility to couple the current sources to any of the electrodes.

主权项

1. An implantable stimulator device, comprising:
a plurality of groups each comprising a plurality of electrodes; a plurality of current sources; a switch matrix controllable by a plurality of first control signals for coupling each of the current sources to any of a plurality of switch matrix outputs; and a group selection matrix controllable by at least one group control signal, wherein each group control signal is configured to simultaneously couple the plurality of switch matrix outputs to a selected group of the plurality of electrodes.