Neural-Dose Spinal Cord Stimulation for Low-Frequency Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy for chronic pain often causes paresthesia, and high-frequency sub-perception therapy to avoid paresthesia requires frequent battery replacement or charging, inconvenient for patients.

Innovation Solution

Employing supra-perception stimulation during the sweet spot search to quickly determine effective electrodes, followed by titrating to sub-perception levels, reduces the wash-in period and ensures immediate effectiveness of sub-perception therapy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If high-frequency sub-perception therapy is used to avoid paresthesia, then patient comfort is improved, but battery life is reduced requiring frequent replacement or charging

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveparesthesiaVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary supra-perception stimulation during a sweet spot search phase to quickly identify effective electrodes before transitioning to sub-perception therapy. This preliminary action establishes the therapeutic foundation faster, reducing the overall treatment time and battery consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters between supra-perception and sub-perception modes based on treatment phase. During sweet spot search, supra-perception parameters are used for rapid electrode identification, then the system transitions to sub-perception parameters for maintenance therapy, optimizing battery life while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Duration of action of moving object

If traditional sub-perception therapy is used without supra-perception search, then battery consumption is reduced, but the wash-in period is extended delaying effective pain relief

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery lifeVSAvoidwash-in period

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Supra-perception stimulation is applied in advance during the sweet spot search to pre-activate the therapeutic pathway and identify optimal electrodes before sub-perception therapy begins. This preliminary activation significantly shortens the wash-in period required for sub-perception therapy to become effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses supra-perception stimulation to rush through the typically slow wash-in period by initially using higher intensity stimulation that produces immediate perceptible effects, then transitions to lower intensity sub-perception therapy that maintains effects with minimal battery consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Productivity

If supra-perception stimulation is used during sweet spot search, then electrode determination speed is improved, but instantaneous battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrode determination speedVSAvoidbattery consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Supra-perception stimulation is used only during the initial sweet spot search phase to quickly determine effective electrodes, then the system transitions to sub-perception therapy. This limited use of high-power stimulation minimizes total energy consumption while maximizing electrode identification speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic supra-perception stimulation during the sweet spot search rather than continuous stimulation, allowing for brief high-power intervals that quickly identify electrodes followed by lower-power maintenance phases, optimizing the balance between speed and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12427318B2Spinal cord stimulation system determining optimal sub-perception therapy by using neural dose

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 BOSTON SCI NEUROMODULATION CORP

AI summary

Methods and systems for determining sub-perception stimulation for a patient having a spinal cord stimulator device are disclosed. In one example, an external device includes an algorithm configured to determine a stimulation program for the stimulator device. The algorithm includes a model that comprises pre-determined energy values that cause sub-perception stimulation. The algorithm is configured to determine stimulation parameters for the stimulation program that yield an energy value within the first model. The energy values in the model may be expressed as a function of frequency. The model in particular provides optimal sub-perception stimulation at low frequencies, such as at 1 kHz and below, or even at 400 Hz and below.