Opinion ID: 4537742
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Asserted Prior Art References

Text: Holsheimer is a U.S. patent entitled, “Multichannel Apparatus for Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation,” and discloses a pulse generator that drives a plurality of electrodes implanted near a patient’s spinal cord. J.A. 2136–37. The implanted apparatus uses a “multi-channel neurological pulse generator which provides independently controlled voltage or current pulses.” J.A. 2156, col. 2 ll. 21–26; J.A. 2157, col. 3 ll. 56–59. The pulse generator is connected to a lead with electrodes at the distal end, corresponding to the number of channels. J.A. 2156, col. 2 ll. 26–29.
Schulman is a U.S. patent entitled, “Battery-Powered Patient Implantable Device,” and discloses a device that may be implanted under the skin of a patient for nerve or muscle stimulation. J.A. 2293. An embodiment of the invention includes a charging circuit that is capable of producing a “charging current in response to an externally produced AC magnetic field.” J.A. 2307, col. 2 ll. 1–3.
Loeb is a U.S. patent entitled, “Implantable Multichannel Stimulator.” Loeb discloses an implantable multichannel stimulator that includes a microstimulator array and an electrode array “sealed or molded in a body compatible material” to form an “integral implantable multichannel stimulator unit.” J.A. 2621; J.A. 2636–37, col. 8 l. 66–col. 9 l. 3. The microstimulator array 45 is powered through inductive coupling with an external power source. J.A. 2637, col. 9 ll. 33–58. Loeb discloses that the stimulator 50 includes “alignment means, such as a magnet or marker 48, that helps align the implanted microstimulator array 45, and more particularly the coils 30 . . . of the implanted microstimulator arrays, with an external coil . . . connected Case: 19-1582 Document: 91 Page: 8 Filed: 05/29/2020 8 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC v. NEVRO CORP. to an external source that generates the modulated power signal.” Id., col. 9 ll. 20–27.
Alo is an article entitled, “Computer Assisted and Patient Interactive Programming of Dual Octrode Spinal Cord stimulation in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.” J.A. 2221. Also discloses a study comparing two types of multielectrode stimulation systems with continuous stimulation (“C-stim”): “patient controlled SCS” (“PC-stim”) and “multistim SCS” (“M-stim”). J.A. 2223. The study involved patients with low-back pain, wherein electrodes were placed at the T9 and T10 intervertebral disc spaces. J.A. 2224. Patients tried different C-stim programs over a five- to seven-day trial period. J.A. 2224–25.