Patents by Inventor Changfang Zhu

Changfang Zhu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10195440
    Abstract: A system for use with a neurostimulator coupled to one or more electrodes implanted adjacent neural tissue of a patient. The system comprises a user input device configured for allowing a user to select different nerve fiber diameters and to select a set of stimulation parameters. The system further comprises processing circuitry configured estimating regions of activation within the neural tissue of the patient based on the selected nerve fiber diameters and the selected stimulation parameter set. The system further comprises a display device configured for displaying the estimated regions of tissue activation. The user input device may further be configured for allowing the user to select different tissue regions of therapy, in which case, the display device may display the different tissue region on a human body map, and different indicia associating the displayed tissue regions for therapy to displayed estimated regions of tissue activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Changfang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180369591
    Abstract: A neuromodulation system and method of providing sub-threshold therapy to a patient. An anodic perception threshold of super-threshold electrical energy and a cathodic perception threshold of super-threshold electrical energy are determined for a plurality of electrode sets. A ratio between the anodic perception threshold and the cathodic perception threshold is calculated for each of the electrode sets. An effective electrode set is selected based on the ratio between the anodic perception threshold and the cathodic perception threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10118036
    Abstract: An example of a system may include an electrode arrangement and a neuromodulation device configured to use electrodes in the electrode arrangement to generate a neuromodulation field. The neuromodulation device may include a neuromodulation generator, a neuromodulation control circuit and a storage. The storage may include a stochastically-modulated neuromodulation parameter set and the stochastically-modulated neuromodulation parameter set may include at least one stochastically-modulated parameter. The controller may be configured to control the neuromodulation generator using the stochastically-modulation parameter set to generate the neuromodulation field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventor: Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10118040
    Abstract: A neuromodulation system comprises a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to a plurality of electrodes, a user interface configured for receiving input from a user that selects one of a plurality of different shapes of a modulating signal and/or selects one of a plurality of different electrical pulse parameters of an electrical pulse train, neuromodulation output circuitry configured for outputting an electrical pulse train to the plurality of electrical terminals, and pulse train modulation circuitry configured for modulating the electrical pulse train in accordance with the selected shape of the modulating signal and/or selected electrical pulse parameter of the electrical pulse train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventor: Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10112050
    Abstract: A neuromodulation system and method of providing sub-threshold therapy to a patient. An anodic perception threshold of super-threshold electrical energy and a cathodic perception threshold of super-threshold electrical energy are determined for a plurality of electrode sets. A ratio between the anodic perception threshold and the cathodic perception threshold is calculated for each of the electrode sets. An effective electrode set is selected based on the ratio between the anodic perception threshold and the cathodic perception threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Changfang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180264267
    Abstract: A method of operating an implantable neuromodulator coupled to an electrode array implanted adjacent tissue of a patient having a medical condition comprises conveying electrical modulation energy to tissue of the patient in accordance with a modulation parameter set, wherein conveying the electrical modulation energy to tissue of the patient in accordance with the modulation parameter set stimulates dorsal horn neuronal elements more than dorsal column neuronal elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Changfang Zhu, Michael A. Moffitt, Bradley Lawrence Hershey
  • Publication number: 20180256897
    Abstract: An example of a system may include electrodes on at least one lead configured to be operationally positioned for use in modulating neural tissue. The neural tissue may include at least one of dorsal horn tissue, dorsal root tissue or dorsal column tissue. The system may include an implantable device including a neural modulation device and a controller. The neural modulation device may be configured to use at least some of the electrodes to generate a modulation field to deliver sub-perception modulation to the neural tissue. The sub-perception modulation may have an intensity below a patient-perception threshold. The patient-perception threshold may be a boundary below which a patient does not sense generation of the modulation field. The controller may be configured to control the neural modulation device to generate the modulation field, and automatically adjust the modulation field in response to a patient input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Jordi Parramon, Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Michael A. Moffitt, Changfang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180214689
    Abstract: An example of a system to program a neuromodulator to deliver neuromodulation to a neural target using a plurality of electrodes may comprise a programming control circuit configured to determine target energy allocations for the plurality of electrodes based on at least one target pole to provide a target sub-perception modulation field, calibrate a plurality of electrode groups in the plurality of electrodes where each of the plurality of electrode groups is in an electrode configuration and includes an electrode set of at least one electrode from the plurality of electrodes, including for each of the plurality of electrode groups receive a feedback metric to delivery of modulation energy to the neural target, and normalize the target sub-perception modulation field, including determine a space domain scaling factor using the feedback metric to account for actual electrode-tissue coupling, and apply the space domain scaling factor to the target energy allocations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Tianhe Zhang, Changfang Zhu, Que T. Doan
  • Publication number: 20180214701
    Abstract: An example of a system to program a neuromodulator to deliver neuromodulation to a neural target using a plurality of electrodes may comprise a programming control circuit configured to determine target energy allocations for the plurality of electrodes based on at least one target pole to provide a target sub-perception modulation field, and normalize the target sub-perception modulation field, including determine a time domain scaling factor to account for at least one property of a neural target or of a neuromodulation waveform, and apply the time domain scaling factor to the target energy allocations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Inventors: Tianhe Zhang, Changfang Zhu, Que T. Doan
  • Publication number: 20180185646
    Abstract: A method of providing therapy to a patient having a medical condition comprises delivering electrical stimulation energy to the spinal cord of the patient in accordance with a stimulation program that preferentially stimulates dorsal horn neuronal elements over dorsal column neuronal elements in the spinal cord. The delivered electrical stimulation energy generates a plurality of electrical fields having different orientations that stimulate the dorsal horn neuronal elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Michael A. Moffitt, Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 10010715
    Abstract: A method of operating an implantable neuromodulator coupled to an electrode array implanted adjacent tissue of a patient having a medical condition comprises conveying electrical modulation energy to tissue of the patient in accordance with a modulation parameter set, wherein conveying the electrical modulation energy to tissue of the patient in accordance with the modulation parameter set stimulates dorsal horn neuronal elements more than dorsal column neuronal elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Changfang Zhu, Michael A. Moffitt, Bradley Lawrence Hershey
  • Patent number: 9993646
    Abstract: An example of a system may include electrodes on at least one lead configured to be operationally positioned for use in modulating neural tissue. The neural tissue may include at least one of dorsal horn tissue, dorsal root tissue or dorsal column tissue. The system may include an implantable device including a neural modulation device and a controller. The neural modulation device may be configured to use at least some of the electrodes to generate a modulation field to deliver sub-perception modulation to the neural tissue. The sub-perception modulation may have an intensity below a patient-perception threshold. The patient-perception threshold may be a boundary below which a patient does not sense generation of the modulation field. The controller may be configured to control the neural modulation device to generate the modulation field, and automatically adjust the modulation field in response to a patient input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Jordi Parramon, Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Michael A. Moffitt, Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 9981134
    Abstract: A neuromodulation system comprises a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being respectively coupled to electrodes, modulation output circuitry configured for respectively outputting a plurality of individual electrical pulse trains in a plurality of timing channels to the electrical terminals, wherein each of the timing channels prevents the respective pulse train from having a specific characteristic, and control circuitry configured for controlling the modulation output circuitry in a manner that outputs the pulse trains to a common set of the electrical terminals, thereby creating a combined electrical pulse train at the common set of electrical terminals that has the specific characteristic. A method of providing therapy to a patient comprises delivering a plurality of electrical pulse trains respectively in a plurality of timing channels to a common set of electrodes implanted within the patient, thereby creating a combined electrical pulse train at the common set of electrical terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Que T. Doan, Changfang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180117343
    Abstract: A method and external control device for performing a medical procedure on a patient in which at least one stimulation lead is implanted. An electrical signal is conveyed from the stimulation lead into tissue of the patient. An electrical parameter indicative of tissue impedance is measured in response to the conveyance of the electrical signal. One of a plurality of different anatomical regions in which the stimulation lead is implanted is selected and/or a depth in which the stimulation is implanted is determined based on the measured electrical parameter. A stimulation parameter is defined based on the selected one anatomical region and/or implantation depth. Electrical stimulation energy from the stimulation lead is conveyed into the one determined anatomical region in accordance with the defined stimulation parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Changfang Zhu, Kerry Bradley
  • Publication number: 20180104488
    Abstract: An example of a system may include an electrode arrangement and a neuromodulation device configured to use electrodes in the electrode arrangement to generate a neuromodulation field. The neuromodulation device may include a neuromodulation generator, a neuromodulation control circuit and a storage. The storage may include a stochastically-modulated neuromodulation parameter set and the stochastically-modulated neuromodulation parameter set may include at least one stochastically-modulated parameter. The controller may be configured to control the neuromodulation generator using the stochastically-modulation parameter set to generate the neuromodulation field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventor: Changfang Zhu
  • Patent number: 9925380
    Abstract: A method of providing therapy to a patient having a medical condition comprises delivering electrical stimulation energy to the spinal cord of the patient in accordance with a stimulation program that preferentially stimulates dorsal horn neuronal elements over dorsal column neuronal elements in the spinal cord. The delivered electrical stimulation energy generates a plurality of electrical fields having different orientations that stimulate the dorsal horn neuronal elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Moffitt, Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Changfang Zhu
  • Publication number: 20180056078
    Abstract: A neuromodulation customization system includes a field definition user interface, a neuromodulation signaling engine, and a supervisor engine. The field definition user interface is to facilitate entry of a customized electrotherapy field definition, with the field definition user interface including a set of input controls for defining field shape, field intensity, and field steering parameters of the customized electrotherapy field. The neuromodulation signaling engine is to produce commands for neuromodulation output circuitry to control generation of a customized electrotherapy field via a set of electrodes based on the customized electrotherapy field definition. The supervisor engine is to assess compliance of the customized electrotherapy field to be generated with applicable predefined criteria, and to modify generation of the customized electrotherapy field in response to an assessed non-compliance with the criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Dheerendra Raghavendra Kashyap, Sarvani Grandhe, Natalie A. Brill, Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Changfang Zhu, Sridhar Kothandaraman, Dennis Zottola, Michael A. Moffitt
  • Publication number: 20180028815
    Abstract: An example of a system may include an electrode arrangement, a neural modulation generator configured to use electrodes in the electrode arrangement to generate a modulation field, a communication module configured to receive commands, a memory configured to store modulation field parameter data, and a controller configured to control the neural modulation generator to generate the modulation field. The controller may be configured to implement a trolling routine to troll the modulation field through neural tissue positions, and implement a marking routine multiple times as the modulation field is trolled through the neural tissue positions to identify when the modulation field provides patient-perceived modulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Michael A. Moffitt, Bradley Lawrence Hershey, Changfang Zhu, Jordi Parramon, Sridhar Kothandaraman
  • Patent number: 9872992
    Abstract: A method and external control device for performing a medical procedure on a patient in which at least one stimulation lead is implanted. An electrical signal is conveyed from the stimulation lead into tissue of the patient. An electrical parameter indicative of tissue impedance is measured in response to the conveyance of the electrical signal. One of a plurality of different anatomical regions in which the stimulation lead is implanted is selected and/or a depth in which the stimulation is implanted is determined based on the measured electrical parameter. A stimulation parameter is defined based on the selected one anatomical region and/or implantation depth. Electrical stimulation energy from the stimulation lead is conveyed into the one determined anatomical region in accordance with the defined stimulation parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
    Inventors: Changfang Zhu, Kerry Bradley
  • Publication number: 20180001092
    Abstract: A system for use with a neurostimulator coupled to one or more electrodes implanted adjacent neural tissue of a patient. The system comprises a user input device configured for allowing a user to select different nerve fiber diameters and to select a set of stimulation parameters. The system further comprises processing circuitry configured estimating regions of activation within the neural tissue of the patient based on the selected nerve fiber diameters and the selected stimulation parameter set. The system further comprises a display device configured for displaying the estimated regions of tissue activation. The user input device may further be configured for allowing the user to select different tissue regions of therapy, in which case, the display device may display the different tissue region on a human body map, and different indicia associating the displayed tissue regions for therapy to displayed estimated regions of tissue activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Dongchul Lee, Changfang Zhu