DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2013.141
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/993
Date of Award
6-2013
Degree Name
MS in Biomedical Engineering
Department/Program
Biomedical and General Engineering
Advisor
David Clague
Abstract
It is a known problem that a Spinal Cord Stimulator (SCS) can interact with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) when both devices are implanted in the same patient. Interactions between the SCS and ICD can cause inappropriate therapy which can be harmful to the patient. While ICD devices have a distinct narrowband sensing bandwidth, the pulse configurations that current SCS devices deliver were not designed with this frequency region in mind. In this thesis, I recommend a new pulse configuration for SCS devices that will minimize the interaction between the two devices. I produce a theoretical equation for each pulse configuration in the frequency domain using the Laplace transform and present the results in Matlab. I also design my own SCS device to deliver multiple pulse configurations and use it to gather empirical data. The theoretical and empirical results are used to show the extent of the improvement between the new pulse and existing pulse configurations. The results prove that the new pulse configuration will significantly reduce crosstalk within the desired ICD bandwidth. A reduction in crosstalk will decrease the probability that an SCS will interact with a ICD device.