Electrode characterization for programming guidance

A system includes processing circuitry configured to determine, for each electrode combination of a plurality of electrode combinations, a metric based on a sensed electrical signal from the electrode combination. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine, for each electrode of a plurality of electrodes, a subset of electrode combinations of the plurality of electrode combinations, each electrode combination of the subset of electrode combinations comprising the electrode, wherein the subset of electrode combinations comprises at least two electrode combinations. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine, for each electrode of the plurality of electrodes, a composite metric based on the metrics of the subset of electrode combinations. The processing circuitry is further configured to determine, select, based on the composite metrics of the plurality of electrodes, at least one electrode for at least one of sensing electrical signals or delivering electrical stimulation.

The abstract as published by the patent office, from US2022266026A1. It describes the invention; it is not a statement of what is protected.

• Interface and electrodes

  Electrodes and arrays

• Telemetry

  Wireless telemetry

• Stimulation

  Stimulation · Closed loop

What the filing appears to be about, read by published rules from its title, abstract and classification codes (A61B5/293, A61B5/4082, A61B5/686, A61N1/0534, A61N1/3605). 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 5 times in 3 offices. Each publication opens in Espacenet.

• United StatesUS2022266026A125 Aug 2022US12661514B223 Jun 2026 · grant
• ChinaCN114949588A30 Aug 2022
• European Patent Officea route to several countries, not a countryEP4049717A131 Aug 2022EP4049717B127 Sep 2023 · grant

1. 24 Feb 2021First filingEarliest priority, at United States. The family is counted in this year.
2. 4 Feb 2022ApplicationFiled at United States.
3. 23 Feb 2022ApplicationsFiled at China, European Patent Office.
4. 18 May 2022Owner recordedUnited States, on US2022266026A1: assignment; owner named: MEDTRONIC, INC., MINNESOTA.
5. 25 Aug 2022First publicationUS2022266026A1, United States.
6. 27 Sep 2023Grant publishedEP4049717B1, European Patent Office.
7. 10 Jun 2026Office recordEuropean Patent Office, on EP4049717A1: lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR).
8. 23 Jun 2026Grant publishedUS12661514B2, United States.

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: US2022266026A1 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