Active current control using the enclosure of an implanted pulse generator

摘要

An electrical stimulation apparatus including a medical device. The medical device includes: a housing component having at least one electrically conductive area. The medical device includes a plurality of conductors configured to be electrically coupled to a distal electrode array. The electrode array are implantable in a human body. The medical device includes a stimulation circuit positioned inside the housing component. The stimulation circuit includes a plurality of controllable stimulation channels. A first subset of the stimulation channels is electrically coupled to the conductors. A second subset of the stimulation channels is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive area of the housing component. The stimulation circuit is operable to simultaneously create a first stimulation path in the electrode array and a second stimulation path that extends from the electrode array to the housing component.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing a neurostimulator that includes a stimulation circuit, an enclosure housing the stimulation circuit therein, the enclosure having at least one conductive area, and a plurality of distal electrodes coupled to the stimulation circuit through the enclosure; operating the stimulation circuit to energize a first subset of the distal electrodes with a first polarity; operating the stimulation circuit to energize a second subset of the distal electrodes with a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the second subset being different from the first subset; operating the stimulation circuit to energize the enclosure with one of the first and second polarities; and determining a perception threshold current level and a pain threshold current level at the enclosure during a calibration stage, and wherein the operating of the stimulation circuit to energize the enclosure is performed such that an electrical current at the enclosure is capped at one of: the perception threshold current level and the pain threshold current level.