Implantable Pulse Generator Measurement Circuitry for Complex Pulse Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stimulation circuitry in implantable pulse generators (IPGs) lacks flexibility in defining complex pulses, limiting the ability to create more sophisticated stimulation patterns, and requires a large number of registers and flip-flops, which increases layout area and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The improved stimulation circuitry uses microcode stored in memory to generate control signals for the Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) circuitry, allowing for the creation of complex pulses with multiple phases and reducing the need for extensive register banks, enabling more flexible and efficient pulse generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional stimulation circuitry with extensive register banks is used, then complex pulses can be generated, but layout area and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/electronic register banks with a software-based microcode system. The microcontroller executes stored microcode instructions to generate stimulation pulses, substituting hardware complexity with programmable software logic. This allows complex pulse patterns to be generated through software algorithms rather than extensive hardware register banks, thereby reducing layout area while maintaining pulse generation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller serves multiple functions: it stores microcode, executes pulse generation algorithms, controls stimulation timing, and manages electrode selection. This single component replaces what would traditionally require multiple dedicated hardware circuits and extensive register banks, achieving multi-functionality that reduces overall device complexity and layout area while maintaining the ability to generate complex stimulation patterns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional stimulation circuitry with extensive register banks is used, then complex pulses can be generated, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces power-intensive hardware register banks with a microcontroller executing efficient software algorithms. The microcontroller's programmable architecture allows for optimized pulse generation that consumes less power than dedicated hardware circuits would require, while still providing the flexibility to generate complex stimulation patterns through software control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters through software control, allowing the microcontroller to optimize power consumption based on the specific pulse pattern being generated. The microcode can implement efficient timing sequences and parameter adjustments that reduce overall power consumption compared to fixed hardware circuits, while maintaining the ability to generate diverse complex pulse patterns when needed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more registers and flip-flops are added to define complex pulses, then pulse sophistication increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes hardware complexity with software sophistication. Instead of adding more physical registers and flip-flops to the circuit, the system uses a microcontroller with stored microcode that can generate arbitrarily complex stimulation patterns through programmed algorithms. This transfers the complexity from the hardware domain to the software domain, reducing circuit complexity while maintaining or even enhancing stimulation pattern sophistication.
Solution Approach 2:
The microcontroller provides dynamic, reconfigurable pulse generation through software execution. The stimulation patterns can be changed by loading different microcode sequences without any hardware reconfiguration. This dynamic approach replaces static hardware circuits with fixed complexity with a flexible software-based system that can adapt to different stimulation requirements, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Improved circuitry for measuring analog values in an implantable pulse generator is disclosed. The measurement circuitry executes instructions that define the timing and parameters of measurements to be taken. The instructions include instructions that are responsive to different types of triggers issued by different pulse definition circuits, which pulse definition circuits generate different stimulation waveforms at different groups of electrodes. The measurement circuitry is configurable to update the groups of electrodes used to deliver stimulation.