Closed-loop feedback for steering stimulation energy within tissue

Abstract

Methods, systems, and external programmers provide therapy to a patient having a dysfunction. In one aspect, electrical energy is conveyed between electrodes to create a stimulation region in tissue adjacent the electrodes. Physiological information from the patient is acquired and analyzed, and a locus of the stimulation region is electronically displaced relative to the tissue based on the analysis of the acquired physiological information. In another aspect, electrical energy is delivered to tissue of the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. A cognitive brain signals is sensed and analyzed, and the stimulation parameter(s) are modified based on the analysis of the cognitive brain signal.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an array of electrodes; and   an implantable pulse generator coupled to the array of electrodes, the implantable pulse generator being configured to:
 convey electrical energy to one or more of the electrodes, thereby creating a stimulation region in tissue of a patient, 
 acquire neural signals corresponding to the patient, 
 perform an analysis of the acquired neural signals, and 
 displace a locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue based on the analysis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the neural signals comprising non-cognitive based neural signals. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the non-cognitive based neural signals comprising at least one of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals and electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , the tissue comprising brain tissue, and wherein the non-cognitive based neural signals are obtained from portions of the brain that can be correlated to a dysfunction. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured to displace the locus of the stimulation region in at least one direction and between two or more of the electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an external programmer configured to receive the acquired neural signals from the implantable pulse generator, perform an analysis of the acquired neural signals, and transmit at least one of a series of stimulation parameter sets to the implantable pulse generator to define the displacement of the locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue. 
     
     
         7 . A system comprising:
 an array of electrodes;   an implantable pulse generator coupled to the array of electrodes, the implantable pulse generator being configured to: convey electrical energy to one or more of the electrodes, thereby creating a stimulation region in tissue of a patient, acquire neural signals corresponding to the patient, transmit the acquired neural signals, and displace a locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue; and   an external programmer configured to:
 receive the acquired neural signals from the implantable pulse generator; 
 perform an analysis of the acquired neural signals, and 
 transmit at least one of a series of stimulation parameter sets to the implantable pulse generator to define the displacement of the locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue. 
   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the series of stimulation parameter sets corresponds to different loci of the stimulation region relative to the tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , the external programmer comprising a casing configured to house internal circuitry, a lighted display screen, the casing comprising a button pad arranged on an exterior of the casing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , the series of stimulation parameter sets comprising a pulse amplitude, pulse duration, and pulse rate, and wherein a user may alter the series of stimulation parameter sets via the button pad. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the neural signals are indicative of a changed status of a dysfunction suffered by the patient. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , the neural signals comprising non-cognitive based neural signals. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , the non-cognitive based neural signals comprising at least one of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals and electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , the tissue comprising brain tissue, and wherein the non-cognitive based neural signals are obtained from portions of the brain that can be correlated to a dysfunction. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 7 , the external programmer comprising telemetry circuitry. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the telemetry circuitry is configured to receive the acquired neural signals from the implantable pulse generator and transmit the stimulation parameter sets to the implantable pulse generator. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 conveying electrical energy to one or more of the electrodes, thereby creating a stimulation region in tissue of a patient;   acquiring neural signals corresponding to the patient;   performing an analysis of the acquired neural signals;   displacing a locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue based on the analyzed neural signals.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , the neural signals comprising non-cognitive based neural signals. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , the non-cognitive based neural signals comprising at least one of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals and electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising sub-durally placing the array of electrodes adjacent the cortex of a brain of the patient, wherein acquiring the neural signals includes sensing brain signals in a cortical region of the brain.