ECAP Sensing Electrode Selection to Minimize Stimulation Artifacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices face challenges in accurately determining evoked compound action potential (ECAP) signals due to interference from noise and stimulation artifacts, leading to inefficiencies in adjusting stimulation parameters and potentially reducing the effectiveness of electrical stimulation therapy.
Innovation Solution
A system is developed to analyze ECAP signals by selecting optimal electrode combinations that minimize stimulation artifacts and maximize electrophysiologic components, using processing circuitry to control stimulation pulses, receive ECAP signal information, and select the best electrode combination for sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple sensing electrode combinations are used to detect ECAP signals, then the accuracy of ECAP signal detection is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing function into multiple electrode combinations, where each combination is responsible for detecting ECAP signals from specific neural structures. By segmenting the sensing function across different electrode pairs, the system can identify and select the optimal combination for each detection task, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through functional division.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes sensing parameters by selecting different electrode combinations based on the detected ECAP signal characteristics. The processor evaluates multiple electrode combinations and switches between them to optimize signal detection, effectively changing the sensing configuration parameters to match the physiological conditions and improve detection accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If ECAP signal detection is performed with high precision, then stimulation parameter adjustment accuracy is improved, but the time required for signal processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary evaluation of multiple electrode combinations to identify the optimal sensing configuration before actual ECAP signal detection. By pre-configuring and testing electrode combinations, the system establishes the best sensing pathway in advance, which accelerates subsequent signal processing and parameter adjustment while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the processor continuously monitors ECAP signal quality from different electrode combinations and automatically selects the optimal combination for real-time stimulation parameter adjustment. This closed-loop feedback approach enables rapid, accurate parameter tuning without requiring extensive manual signal processing time.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, devices, and techniques for analyzing evoked compound action potentials (ECAP) signals to evaluate and select an electrode combination. A method includes controlling, by processing circuitry, deliver of a plurality of stimulation pulses via at least one stimulation electrode combination, receiving, by the processing circuitry, evoked compound action potential (ECAP) signal information representing different ECAP signals evoked from respective stimulation pulses of the plurality of stimulation pulses and obtained from respective different sensing electrode combinations, selecting, by the processing circuitry and based on the ECAP signal information, one electrode combination from the different sensing electrode combinations.