Method and System for Controlling Electrical Conditions of Tissue II

Abstract

A method for controlling electrical conditions of tissue in relation to a current stimulus. A first current produced by a first current source is delivered to the tissue via a current injection electrode. A second current drawn by a second current source is extracted from the tissue via a current extraction electrode. The second current source is matched with the first current source so as to balance the first current and the second current. A ground electrode which is proximal to the current injection electrode and the current extraction electrode is grounded, to provide a ground path for any mismatch current between the first current and second current. A response of the tissue to the current stimulus is measured via at least one measurement electrode.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2012904838 filed 6 Nov. 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to controlling the electrical conditions of tissue, for example for use in suppressing artefact to enable improved measurement of a response to a stimulus, such as measurement of a compound action potential by using one or more electrodes implanted proximal to a neural pathway.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Neuromodulation is used to treat a variety of disorders including chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, and migraine. A neuromodulation system applies an electrical pulse to tissue in order to generate a therapeutic effect. When used to relieve chronic pain, the electrical pulse is applied to the dorsal column (DC) of the spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Such a system typically comprises an implanted electrical pulse gener...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0030]Preferred embodiments of the invention may thus reduce artefact by reducing interaction between the stimulus and the measurement recording via a measurement amplifier input capacitance.

[0031]Some embodiments of the invention may utilise a blanking circuit for blanking the measurement

Problems solved by technology

While the clinical effect of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is well established, the precise mechanisms involved are poorly understood.

However, this can be a difficult task as an observed CAP signal will typically have a maximum amplitude in the range of microvolts, whereas a stimulus applied to evoke the CAP is typically several volts.

Electrode artefact usually results from the stimulus, and manifests as a decaying output of several millivolts throughout the time that the CAP occurs, presenting a significant obstacle to isolating the CAP of interest.

The capacitor recovers charge at the highest rate immediately after the stimulus, undesirably causing greatest artefact at the same time that the evoked response occurs.

To resolve a 10 uV SCP with 1 uV resolution in the presence of an input 5V stimulus, for example, requires an amplifier with a dynamic range of 134 dB, which is impractical in implant systems.

As the neural response can be contemporaneous with the stimulus and/or the stimulus artefact, CAP measurements present a difficult challenge of amplifier design.

In p

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