Methods to avoid frequency locking in a multi-channel neurostimulation system using pulse shifting

Abstract

A method and neurostimulation system for treating a patient are provided. A plurality of pulsed electrical waveforms are respectively delivered within a plurality of timing channels of the neurostimulation system, thereby treating the patient. Sets of stimulation pulses within the pulsed electrical waveforms that will potentially overlap temporally are predicted. Stimulation pulses in the respective pulsed electrical waveforms are temporally shifted in a manner that prevents overlap of the potentially overlapping pulse sets while preventing frequency locking between the timing channels.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 receiving at least two programs for respectively delivering at least two pulsed electrical waveforms using at least two timing channels; and   processing the at least two programs to prevent the at least two timing channels from having overlapping pulses, wherein the processing includes temporally adjusting at least one pulse in at least one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes alternately adjusting the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes:
 temporally adjusting one of the stimulation pulses in one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms forward; and   temporally adjusting another of the stimulation pulses in another one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms backward.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes:
 determining which pulse of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms need to be shifted to prevent overlapping pulses; and   temporally shifting the determined pulse.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes:
 determining non-overlapping stimulation pulse sets within the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms that are indicated for adjustment based on temporal proximity; and   temporally shifting at least one pulse in each of the determined non-overlapping pulse sets.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes: temporally shifting at least one pulse in each the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms a random amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms have different pulse frequencies. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising defining the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms in response to a user input. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 a plurality of electrical terminals configured to be respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes;   output circuitry configured to deliver to the electrical terminals at least two pulsed electrical waveforms using at least two timing channels; and   control circuitry configured to:
 receive at least two programs for respectively delivering at least two pulsed electrical waveforms using at least two timing channels; and 
 process the at least two programs to prevent the at least two timing channels from having overlapping pulses by temporally adjusting at least one pulse in at least one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to alternately adjust the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to temporally adjust one of the stimulation pulses in one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms forward, and temporally adjust another of the stimulation pulses in one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms backward. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine which pulse of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms need to be shifted to prevent overlapping pulses, and temporally shift the determined pulse. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 receive at least two programs for respectively delivering at least two pulsed electrical waveforms using at least two timing channels; and   process the at least two programs to prevent the at least two timing channels from having overlapping pulses by temporally adjusting at least one in at least one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes alternately adjusting the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes:
 temporally adjusting one of the stimulation pulses in one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms forward; and   temporally adjusting another of the stimulation pulses in another one of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms backward.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes:
 determining which pulse of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms need to be shifted to prevent overlapping pulses; and   temporally shifting the determined pulse.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes:
 determining non-overlapping stimulation pulse sets of the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms that are indicated for adjustment based on temporal proximity; and   temporally shifting at least one pulse in each of the determined non-overlapping pulse sets.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the temporally adjusting includes temporally shifting at least one pulse in each the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms a random amount. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms have different pulse frequencies. 
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , further comprising instructions, which when executed by the machine, cause the machine to define the at least two pulsed electrical waveforms in response to a user input.