Patent ID: 7982529
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: A61N,H02M

Abstract:
1. An implantable pulse generator for generating electrical pulses for application to tissue of a patient, the implantable pulse generator comprising: a battery for powering the device; a voltage conversion module coupled to the battery for generating an output voltage that is selected from a range of voltage levels including non-integer multiples of a battery voltage according to a control signal, wherein during pump phase operation, (i) the voltage conversion module charges a first storage capacitor to a first voltage level that is less than the battery voltage, and (ii) the voltage conversion modules charges a second storage capacitor to a second voltage level that is greater that the battery voltage; pulse generating circuitry for generating electrical pulses, wherein the pulse generating circuitry receives the output voltage from the voltage conversion module for pulse generation operations; and a controller for controlling the pulse generating circuitry to generate electrical pulses according to a stimulation program, the stimulation program including a first set of parameters including a first amplitude value and a second set of parameters including a second amplitude value, wherein during operation according to the stimulation program, the controller causes the pulse generating circuitry to repeatedly alternate between generating one or more pulses at the first amplitude value and generating one or more pulses at the second amplitude value; wherein, during operation according to the stimulation program, the controller sends a control signal to the voltage conversion module to select different voltage levels for the second voltage according to the first and second amplitude values; wherein during operation according to the stimulation program, the voltage conversion module controls one or more switches to connect multiple storage capacitors to directly provide the output voltage according to the control signal from the controller without discharging the first and second capacitors.