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Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissueRelated Patent Categories: Surgery: Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Light, Thermal, And Electrical Application, Electrical Therapeutic SystemsApparatus and methods for stimulating tissue description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070142863, Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissue. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS [0001] 1. Field of Inventions [0002] The present inventions relate generally to neurostimulation systems. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Neurostimulation systems, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems, deep brain stimulation systems and peripheral nerve stimulation systems, include at least one electrode positioned to enable stimulation of neural elements that are the target tissue (i.e. the tissue that, when sufficiently stimulated, will create the desired therapeutic effect). The electrodes are commonly mounted on a carrier and, in many instances, a plurality of electrodes are mounted on a single carrier. These carrier/electrode devices are sometimes referred to as "leads". The electrodes may be used to cause nerves to fire action potentials (APs) that propagate along the neural fibers. More specifically, supplying stimulation energy to an electrode functioning as a cathode creates an electric potential field that causes depolarization of the neurons adjacent to the electrode. When the field is strong enough to depolarize (or "stimulate") the neurons beyond a threshold level, the neurons will fire APs. [0005] Stimulation energy may be delivered to the electrodes during and after the lead placement process in order to verify that the electrodes are stimulating the target neural elements and to formulate the most effective stimulation regimen. The regimen will dictate which of the electrodes are sourcing or returning current pulses at any given time, as well as the magnitude and duration of the current pulses. The stimulation regimen will typically be one that provides stimulation energy to all of the target tissue that must be stimulated in order to provide the therapeutic benefit (e.g., pain relief), yet minimizes the volume of non-target tissue that is stimulated. Thus, certain types of neurostimulation leads are typically implanted with the understanding that the stimulus pattern will require fewer than all of the electrodes on the leads to achieve the desired clinical effect; in the case of SCS, such a clinical effect is "paresthesia," i.e., a tingling sensation that is effected by the electrical stimuli applied through the electrodes. [0006] The present inventor has determined that conventional stimulus regimens, and the manner in which they are formulated, may be susceptible to improvement. For example, there are instances where the target tissue is not directly adjacent to an electrode and, because electrical field strength decreases exponentially with distance from the electrode, a relatively strong electric field must be created to generate APs in the target neural fibers. The electric field may, however, result in the generation of APs in the non-target fiber bundles between the electrode and the target fibers. The generation of APs in the non-target tissue may, in turn, lead to undesirable outcomes (e.g., discomfort) for the patient. The present inventor has determined that it may also be desirable in, for example, the context of leads that are oriented transverse to the target neural fibers, to selectively control the shape of the AP generating region in order to prevent the generation of APs in non-target fibers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS [0007] Apparatus and methods in accordance with some of the present inventions involve the creation of APs in neural fibers and the selective blocking of the APs in some of the neural fibers in which APs are created. Such apparatus and methods are advantageous for a variety of reasons. For example, such apparatus and methods facilitate stimulation regimens that create APs in tissue that is not directly adjacent to the depolarizing electrode(s) while preventing APs from propagating in the tissue therebetween that produce undesirable outcomes for the patient. [0008] Apparatus and methods in accordance with some of the present inventions involve the use of local current imbalances and the sinking of current at a remote cathode(s). Such apparatus and methods are advantageous for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, facilitation of the selective control of the width and depth of AP generating regions. For example, the programmer may increase the current sourced at one or more electrodes within the stimulation site, which tends to reduce the width of the AP generating and propagating region, without a corresponding increase in the current sunk at one or more other electrodes within the stimulation site (which would increase the depth of the AP generating region). [0009] The above described and many other features of the present inventions will become apparent as the inventions become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0011] FIG. 1 is a side view of a neurostimulation system in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is an end view of an implantable pulse generator in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention. [0013] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lead in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention. [0014] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of an implantable pulse generator in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention. [0015] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a stimulation regimen that may be produced by the implantable pulse generator illustrated in FIG. 1. [0016] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another stimulation regimen that may be produced by the implantable pulse generator illustrated in FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a stimulation pulse that may be produced by the implantable pulse generator illustrated in FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 8 is an illustration of another stimulation pulse that may be produced by the implantable pulse generator illustrated in FIG. 1. [0019] FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of an implantable pulse generator in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention. [0020] FIG. 10 is a graph of the changes in neural fiber transmembrane potential that results from a conventional neurostimulation regimen. [0021] FIG. 11 is a graph of the changes in neural fiber transmembrane potential that results from another conventional neurostimulation regimen. Continue reading about Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissue... Full patent description for Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissue Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and methods for stimulating tissue patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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