Therapy program selection for electrical stimulation therapy based on a volume of tissue activation

In some examples, a processor of a system evaluates a therapy program based on a score determined based on a volume of tissue expected to be activated (“VTA”) by therapy delivery according to the therapy program. The score may be determined using an efficacy map comprising a plurality of voxels that are each assigned a value. In some examples, the efficacy map is selected from a plurality of stored efficacy maps based on a patient condition, one or more patient symptoms, or both the patient condition and one or more patient symptoms. In addition, in some examples, voxels of the efficacy map are assigned respective values that are associated with a clinical rating scale.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US2016067495A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

• Interface and electrodes

  Electrodes and arrays

• Telemetry

  Wireless telemetry

• Stimulation

  Stimulation

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B5/24, A61B5/293, A61B5/4064, A61B5/4076, A61B5/4833). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

Interface and electrodes

Everything downstream works with what the contacts pick up. Their number, size and distance from the neurons set the ceiling on the signal. The problem behind it: more contacts, closer to neurons, that still record after years in tissue that reacts to them.

Telemetry

Thousands of channels produce more data than a low-power radio can carry raw, so what is sent, and how, decides what the system can use. The problem behind it: high data rates at low power through tissue, reliably and securely.

Stimulation

Restoring sensation, sight or movement needs information going in, and a therapy that adapts needs to sense and stimulate at once. The problem behind it: evoking a precise, stable effect without damaging tissue or electrodes, and without blinding the recording.

Why the layer matters to the field, not a judgement of this filing. A patent family shows that protection was sought. It does not show that the technology was built, is used in a product, or works in people. The whole stack

One invention, published 9 times in 4 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

• United StatesUS2016067495A110 Mar 2016US10583293B210 Mar 2020 · grantUS2020164212A128 May 2020US11648398B216 May 2023 · grant
• International (PCT)a route to several countries, not a countryWO2016039819A117 Mar 2016
• ChinaCN106659412A10 May 2017CN106659412B8 Jun 2021 · grant
• European Patent Officea route to several countries, not a countryEP3191177A119 Jul 2017EP3191177B117 Jun 2020 · grant

1. 9 Sep 2014First filingEarliest priority, at United States. The family is counted in this year.
2. 18 Sep 2014Owner recordedUnited States, on US2016067495A1: assignment; owner named: MEDTRONIC, INC., MINNESOTA.
3. 21 Apr 2015ApplicationsFiled at International (PCT), China, European Patent Office.
4. 10 Mar 2016First publicationUS2016067495A1, United States.
5. 28 Jan 2020ApplicationFiled at United States.
6. 17 Jun 2020Grant publishedEP3191177B1, European Patent Office.
7. 8 Jun 2021Grant publishedCN106659412B, China.
8. 16 May 2023Grant publishedUS11648398B2, United States.
9. 15 Jan 2026Office recordEuropean Patent Office, on EP3191177A1: lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR).

Dates as the offices published them. Office records are in the offices' own words and are a selection: refusals, lapses and withdrawals, and records that name an owner. Each concerns one member of the family, not the family as a whole, and another member in the same office may stand. Whether a patent is in force today is not assessed.

Organisation

Medtronic · 40 families identified

• Bibliographic data, family members and office records: European Patent Office, Open Patent Services (the DOCDB and INPADOC databases), read 7 Oct 2026.
• The record itself, with its claims and description: US2016067495A1 in Espacenet
• Counted as a BCI patent family: classified A61B5/293 (invasive electrodes for brain recording); filed by MEDTRONIC, INC., an organisation already in the graph; cites a family already accepted. How families are found and judged