User interface with 3D environment for configuring stimulation therapy

• US 10,286,216 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stone, Richard T., Ball, Warren W., Wahlstrand, Carl D., Goetz, Steven M., Otten, Lynn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel, George
• Application Number:
  US15/374,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20170087370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36153 Voltage A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36192 Amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to configure electrical stimulation therapy by defining a three-dimensional (3D) stimulation field. After a stimulation lead is implanted in a patient, a clinician manipulates the 3D stimulation field in a 3D environment to encompass desired anatomical regions of the patient. In this manner, the clinician determines which anatomical regions to stimulate, and the system generates the necessary stimulation parameters. In some cases, a lead icon representing the implanted lead is displayed to show the clinician where the lead is relative to the 3D anatomical regions of the patient.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an electrical stimulation lead comprising;

a cylindrical lead housing defining a longitudinal axis and a circumference; and

a plurality of electrodes disposed at respective different positions equidistant around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing; and

an implantable medical device configured to;

generate electrical stimulation signals deliverable via the electrical stimulation lead; and

independently utilize each electrode of the plurality of electrodes by selecting values of stimulation parameters for each electrode that define the electrical stimulation signals, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is programmable with a different respective value for at least one of the stimulation parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to deliver the electrical stimulation with at least a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode having a first current amplitude different than a second current amplitude of the second electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to deliver the electrical stimulation with at least a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode having a first voltage amplitude different than a second voltage amplitude of the second electrode.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to deliver the electrical stimulation with at least a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode being an anode and the second electrode being a cathode.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation lead comprises electrodes disposed at different respective axial positions along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical lead housing, the electrodes disposed at different respective axial positions comprising the plurality of electrodes disposed at respective different positions around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of electrodes is a first plurality of electrodes disposed at a first axial position along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical lead housing, and wherein the electrical stimulation lead comprises a second plurality of electrodes disposed at a second axial position along the longitudinal axis and respective different positions around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes comprises the same number of electrodes.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least three electrodes.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrodes.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to offset a stimulation field in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis by independently utilizing at least one electrode of the plurality of electrodes to deliver the electrical stimulation signals that creates the stimulation field.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed at respective equidistant positions around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each electrode of the pluraity of electrodes is programmable as either an anode or a cathode, and wherein the implantable medical device is configured to program each electrode of the plurality of electrodes as one of the anode or the cathode.

13. A method comprising:

selecting, by one or more processors, values of stimulation parameters for a plurality of electrodes that define electrical stimulation signals to independently utilize each electrode of the plurality of electrodes;

generating, by an implantable medical device, the electrical stimulation signals deliverable via an electrical stimulation lead and defined by the selected values of the stimulation parameters, wherein the electrical stimulation lead comprises;

a cylindrical lead housing defining a longitudinal axis and a circumference; and

the plurality of electrodes disposed at respective different positions equidistant around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is programmable with a different respective value for at least one of the stimulation parameters.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the electrical stimulation signals comprises generating the electrical stimulation signals for at least a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode having a first current amplitude different than a second current amplitude of the second electrode.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the electrical stimulation signals comprises generating the electrical stimulation signals for at least a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode having a first voltage amplitude different than a second voltage amplitude of the second electrode.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the electrical stimulation signals comprises generating the electrical stimulation signals for at least a first electrode and a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode being an anode and the second electrode being a cathode.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the electrical stimulation lead comprises electrodes disposed at different respective axial positions along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical lead housing, the electrodes disposed at different respective axial positions comprising the plurality of electrodes disposed at respective different positions around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of electrodes is a first plurality of electrodes disposed at a first axial position along the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical lead housing, and wherein the electrical stimulation lead comprises a second plurality of electrodes disposed at a second axial position along the longitudinal axis and respective different positions around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the first plurality of electrodes and the second plurality of electrodes comprises the same number of electrodes.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least three electrodes.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrodes.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the values of the stimulation parameters comprises independently utilizing the values of the stimulation parameters for the plurality of electrodes to offset a stimulation field in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis created by the electrical stimulation signals.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is programmable as either an anode or a cathode, and wherein the method further comprises programming each electrode of the plurality of electrodes as one of the anode or the cathode.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:

select values of stimulation parameters for a plurality of electrodes that define electrical stimulation signals to independently utilize each electrode of the plurality of electrodes; and

control an implantable medical device to generate the electrical stimulation signals deliverable via an electrical stimulation lead and defined by the selected values of the stimulation parameters, wherein the electrical stimulation lead comprises;

a cylindrical lead housing defining a longitudinal axis and a circumference; and

the plurality of electrodes disposed at respective different positions equidistant around the circumference of the cylindrical lead housing, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is programmable with a different respective value for at least one of the stimulation parameters.