Claims
- 1. An implantable medical device comprising in combination:
(a) a first regulator module capable of providing a first therapy program; (b) a second regulator module capable of providing a second therapy program independent of the first therapy program; (c) a plurality of electrodes coupled to deliver one or more therapy programs; (d) a switching unit for dynamically coupling the first regulator module to at least a first electrode within the plurality of electrodes and the second regulator module to at least a second electrode within the plurality of electrodes; and (e) a waveform controller configured to independently deliver the first and second therapy programs to a patient.
- 2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the first regulator module is capable of generating a first pulse train associated with the first therapy program.
- 3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the second regulator module is capable of generating a second pulse train associated with the second therapy program.
- 4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, further comprising:
(f) a generator capable of providing voltages necessary to generate a first pulse train associated with the first therapy program and a second pulse train associated with the second therapy program.
- 5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the second therapy program provides patient notification.
- 6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the second therapy program provides patient notification by way of a patterned stimulation discernable by a patient.
- 7. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the second therapy program supports sub-threshold measurements.
- 8. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the second therapy program supports measurement functions.
- 9. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the waveform controller is configured to simultaneously deliver the first and second therapy programs to a patient.
- 10. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the waveform controller is configured to deliver the first and second therapy programs that are overlapping in time.
- 11. A method for independently delivering a plurality of therapy programs in an implantable medical device comprising the steps of:
(a) configuring the implantable medical device to generate a first pulse train associated with a first therapy program and a second pulse train associated with a second therapy program, wherein the step further comprises the steps of (i) dynamically selecting at least a first electrode and configuring the implantable medical device to deliver the first pulse train to the first electrode; and (ii) dynamically selecting at least a second electrode and configuring the implantable medical device to deliver the second pulse train to the second electrode; and (b) independently delivering the first and second pulse trains to a patient.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of configuring the implantable medical device includes the step of configuring a generator to provide appropriate voltages to generate the first and second pulse trains.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of configuring the implantable medical device includes the step of configuring a first regulator module to generate the first pulse train.
- 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of configuring the implantable medical device includes the step of configuring a second regulator module to generate the second pulse train.
- 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of configuring includes the step of configuring the first and second electrodes in accordance with the first and second therapy programs, respectively.
- 16. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of independently delivering the second pulse train includes the step of providing patient notification.
- 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of independently delivering the second pulse train includes the step of providing patient notification by way of a patterned stimulation discernable by a patient.
- 18. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of independently delivering the second pulse train includes the step of supporting sub-threshold measurements.
- 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of independently delivering the second pulse train includes the step of supporting measurement functions.
- 20. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of independently delivering includes the step of simultaneously delivering the first and second pulse trains.
- 21. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of independently delivering includes the step of delivering the first and second pulse trains that overlap in time.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This disclosure is related to the following co-pending applications:
[0002] a. “Voltage/Current Regulator Improvements for an Implantable Medical Device” by inventor Goblish, et al., (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00066), having U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and filed on Apr. ______, 2002;
[0003] b. “Detection of Possible Failure of Capacitive Elements in an Implantable Medical Device” by inventors Heathershaw, et al., (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00069), having U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and filed on Apr. ______, 2001;
[0004] c. “Recharge Delay for an Implantable Medical Device” by inventors Goblish, et al., (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00067), having U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and filed on Apr. ______, 2002;
[0005] d. “Wave Shaping for an Implantable Medical Device” by inventors Jensen et al., (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00071), having U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and filed on Apr. ______, 2001;
[0006] e. “Automatic Waveform Output Adjustment for an Implantable Medical Device” by inventors Acosta et al., (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00072), having U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and filed on Apr. ______, 2002; and
[0007] f. “Programmable Waveform Pulses For An Implantable Medical Device” by inventors Goblish et al., (Attorney Docket No. 011738.00075), having U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, and filed on Apr. ______, 2002.
[0008] which are not admitted as prior art with respect to the present disclosure by their mention in this section.