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The BCI Briefing

Patent familyBCI, high confidence

Independent control of electrical stimulation amplitude for electrodes for delivery of electrical stimulation therapy

Filed by Medtronic and メドトロニック，インコーポレイテッド, first in 2019.

Granted · CN, EP, USView in Espacenet
Earliest priority
25 Nov 2019 · United States
Status
A grant was published in China, European Patent Office, United States, first on 16 Aug 2022
Published in
United States · International (PCT) · China · European Patent Office · Japan
Registered as
Medtronic, Inc. · MEDTRONIC INC · 美敦力公司
Inventors
Young-Dixon, Brendan J. · Thompson, Alicia Weller · Peskar, Cheryl · Beall, Lance · Kilbane, Susan Heilman · B·j·杨－狄克逊 · and 6 more
Family
DOCDB 73856318 · 8 publications

What it concerns

Techniques are described, for medical devices that deliver electrical stimulation using current or voltage regulators having an adjustable master amplitude. One example method includes receiving, via a programmer for an electrical stimulator, user input indicating a desired electrical current amplitude, and selecting a first fraction adjustment or a second fraction adjustment, as a target adjustment for achieving the desired electrical current amplitude.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US2021154480A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

Protection themes

  • 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 (A61N1/025, A61N1/0531, A61N1/3615, A61N1/36157, A61N1/36185). The claims define what a patent protects, and they are not read here.

Why it matters

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

The family

One invention, published 8 times in 5 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

Timeline

  1. 25 Nov 2019First filingEarliest priority, at United States. The family is counted in this year.
  2. 25 Nov 2019Owner recordedUnited States, on US2021154480A1: assignment; owner named: MEDTRONIC, INC., MINNESOTA.
  3. 24 Nov 2020ApplicationsFiled at International (PCT), China, European Patent Office, Japan.
  4. 27 May 2021First publicationUS2021154480A1, United States.
  5. 16 Aug 2022Grant publishedUS11413461B2, United States.
  6. 6 Dec 2024Office recordJapan, on JP2023502518A: decision of refusal.
  7. 29 Oct 2025Grant publishedEP4065213B1, European Patent Office.
  8. 29 May 2026Grant publishedCN114845771B, China.
  9. 23 Sep 2026Office recordEuropean Patent Office, on EP4065213A1: gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee (AT, BG, CH, CZ, DK, EE, ES, FI, HR, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, 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.

Sources

  • 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: US2021154480A1 in Espacenet
  • Counted as a BCI patent family: classified A61N1/0531 (brain cortex electrodes); filed by Medtronic, Inc., an organisation already in the graph; cites a family already accepted. How families are found and judged