Unwrapped 2D view of a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry

• US 10,661,074 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2019
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Stone, Richard T., Ball, Warren W., Wahlstrand, Carl D., Hegland, Michael T., Molnar, Gabriela C., Olsen, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dietrich, Joseph M
• Application Number:
  US16/517,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20190336751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. The disclosure also contemplates guided programming to select electrode combinations and parameter values to support efficacy. The techniques may be applied to a programming interface associated with a clinician programmer, a patient programmer, or both. A user interface permits a user to view electrodes from different perspectives relative to the lead. For example, the user interface provides a side view of a lead and a cross-sectional view of the lead. The user interface may include an axial control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different axial positions along the length of a lead, and a rotational control medium to select and/or view electrodes at different angular positions around a circumference of the lead.

Claims

1. An external programmer for a medical device, the programmer comprising:

a display;

one or more processors configured to;

present, via the display, a representation of a plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of an implantable lead, the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes located at different angular positions about a circumference of the implantable lead; and

present, via the display, an orientation marker with respect to the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes, the orientation marker indicative of a circumferential orientation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead; and

a user interface configured to receive user input selecting a value of one or more stimulation parameters that at least partially define electrical stimulation deliverable via one or more electrodes of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to present, via the display, a representation of the implantable lead comprising the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to present the orientation marker proximal of all electrodes of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to present the orientation marker offset from a longitudinal axis defined by the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

5. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the implantable lead comprises a radiopaque marker that corresponds to the orientation marker presented via the display.

6. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to present, via the display, the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes in conjunction with a representation of an anatomical region.

7. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are configured to present, via the display, one of a plus sign or a minus sign within one or more respective electrodes represented by the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead to indicate a polarity of the one or more respective electrodes.

8. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead comprises a three-dimensional perspective view of the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

9. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a request to rotate the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to rotate the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes and the orientation marker at the display such that the orientation marker rotates with the representation of the non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

10. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the one or more stimulation parameters comprise at least one of an electrode configuration, an electrode polarity, a current amplitude, a voltage amplitude, a pulse width, or a pulse rate.

11. The programmer of claim 1, further comprising a telemetry interface configured to transmit the value of the one or more stimulation parameters to the medical device for delivery of the electrical stimulation.

12. A method comprising:

presenting, via the display, a representation of a plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of an implantable lead, the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes located at different angular positions about a circumference of the implantable lead;

presenting, via the display, an orientation marker with respect to the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes, the orientation marker indicative of a circumferential orientation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead; and

receiving, via a user interface, user input selecting a value of one or more stimulation parameters that at least partially define electrical stimulation deliverable via one or more electrodes of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising presenting, via the display, a representation of the implantable lead comprising the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting the orientation marker comprises presenting the orientation marker proximal of all electrodes of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein presenting the orientation marker comprises presenting the orientation marker offset from a longitudinal axis defined by the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the implantable lead comprises a radiopaque marker that corresponds to the orientation marker presented via the display.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising presenting, via the display, the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes in conjunction with a representation of an anatomical region.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising presenting, via the display, one of a plus sign or a minus sign within one or more respective electrodes represented by the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead to indicate a polarity of the one or more respective electrodes.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead comprises a three-dimensional perspective view of the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, via the user interface, a request to rotate the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes; and

rotating, for presentation via the display, the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes and the orientation marker such that the orientation marker rotates with the representation of the non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more stimulation parameters comprise at least one of an electrode configuration, an electrode polarity, a current amplitude, a voltage amplitude, a pulse width, or a pulse rate.

22. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting, via a telemetry interface, the value of the one or more stimulation parameters to the medical device for delivery of the electrical stimulation.

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

present, via a display, a representation of a plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of an implantable lead, the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes located at different angular positions about a circumference of the implantable lead;

present, via the display, an orientation marker with respect to the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes, the orientation marker indicative of a circumferential orientation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead; and

receive, via a user interface, user input selecting a value of one or more stimulation parameters that at least partially define electrical stimulation deliverable via one or more electrodes of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to present the orientation marker offset from a longitudinal axis defined by the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.

25. A system comprising:

a lead defining a circumference and comprising a plurality of non-contiguous electrodes located at different angular positions about the circumference;

an external programmer comprising;

a display;

one or more processors configured to;

present, via the display, a representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead; and

present, via the display, an orientation marker with respect to the representation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes, the orientation marker indicative of a circumferential orientation of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead; and

a user interface configured to receive user input selecting a value of one or more stimulation parameters that at least partially define electrical stimulation deliverable via one or more electrodes of the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes; and

an implantable medical device configured to deliver the electrical stimulation according to the value of the one or more stimulation parameters.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the one or more processors are configured to present the orientation marker offset from a longitudinal axis defined by the plurality of non-contiguous electrodes of the implantable lead.