Context-sensitive collection of neurostimulation therapy data

• US 20040181262A1
• Filed: 03/13/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Bauhahn, Ruth E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,647,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Techniques for collection and management of data relating to neurostimulation therapy involve selection of questions for the user to answer based on the context of the therapy delivered by the neurostimulation device at the time the questions are presented. In this manner, appropriate data may be collected for specific contexts. The techniques may involve storage of answers to the questions with information indicative of the contexts. Information indicative of the contexts may include information relating to the types of neurostimulation therapy requests made by the patient, stimulation settings associated with the neurostimulation therapy, and data and time information. The techniques may be implemented by neurostimulation therapy interface device such as a patient programmer that controls operation of an implanted neurostimulation device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a neurostimulation therapy request from a patient via a neurostimulation therapy interface device;

selecting one or more questions from a memory associated with the neurostimulation therapy interface device based on a context associated with the request; and

presenting the selected questions to the patient via the neurostimulation therapy interface device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting a series of questions based on the context associated with the request.

3. The method of claim of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining answers to the questions; and

storing information relating to the answers, a context associated with the requests, and one or more settings associated with the neurostimulation therapy.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the settings include pulse amplitude, pulse width, and pulse rate.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the information further relates to a date and time of the response.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the information relating to the context associated with the requests indicates whether the request included a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, start the neurostimulation therapy, or stop the neurostimulation therapy.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising storing the information in the memory associated with the neurostimulation therapy interface device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurostimulation therapy request includes one of a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, a request to start delivery of the neurostimulation therapy, and a request to stop delivery of the neurostimulation therapy.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the questions include a question relating to intake of medication by the patient, a question relating to a level of activity by the patient, a question relating to specification of one or more sites of pain within the patient, and a query relating to a degree of pain relief achieved by the neurostimulation therapy.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the questions further include a question relating to a quality of pain experienced by the patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the questions include a question relating to one of a pain syndrome and a movement disorder.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the questions are formulated by a clinician responsible for care of the patient.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing delivery of a response to the request.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein directing delivery of a response to the request includes directing one of delivering neurostimulation therapy to the patient, modifying one or more parameters associated with neurostimulation therapy delivered to the patient, and delivering a placebo neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

15. A device comprising:

an input interface that receives a neurostimulation therapy request from a patient;

a processor that selects one or more questions based on a context associated with the request; and

an output interface that presents the selected questions to the patient.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor selects a series of questions based on the context associated with the request.

17. The device of claim of claim 16, wherein the processor obtains answers to the questions, and stores information relating to the answers, a context associated with the requests, and one or more settings associated with the neurostimulation therapy.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the settings include pulse amplitude, pulse width, and pulse rate.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the information further relates to a date and time of the response.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the information relating to the context associated with the requests indicates whether the request included a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, start the neurostimulation therapy, or stop the neurostimulation therapy.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein the processor stores the information in a memory associated with a neurostimulation device programmer.

22. The device of claim 15, wherein the neurostimulation therapy request includes one of a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, a request to start delivery of the neurostimulation therapy, and a request to stop delivery of the neurostimulation therapy.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the questions include a question relating to intake of medication by the patient, a question relating to a level of activity by the patient, a question relating to specification of one or more sites of pain within the patient, and a query relating to a degree of pain relief achieved by the neurostimulation therapy.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the questions further include a question relating to a quality of pain experienced by the patient.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein the questions include a question relating to one of a pain syndrome and a movement disorder.

26. The device of claim 15, wherein the questions are formulated by a clinician responsible for care of the patient.

27. The device of claim 15, wherein the processor directs delivery of a response to the request.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the processor directs delivery of a response by directing one of delivering neurostimulation therapy to the patient, modifying one or more parameters associated with neurostimulation therapy delivered to the patient, and delivering a placebo neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

29. The device of claim 15, further comprising a memory that stores context-sensitive questions and selection criteria to select one or more of the context-sensitive question based on a context associated with the request.

30. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause processor to:

receive a neurostimulation therapy request from a patient;

select one or more questions based on a context associated with the request; and

present the selected questions to the patient.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the instructions cause the processor to select a series of questions based on the context associated with the request.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim of claim 31, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

obtain answers to the questions; and

store information relating to the answers, a context associated with the requests, and one or more settings associated with the neurostimulation therapy.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the settings include pulse amplitude, pulse width, and pulse rate.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the information further relates to a date and time of the response.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the information relating to the context associated with the requests indicates whether the request included a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, start the neurostimulation therapy, or stop the neurostimulation therapy.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions cause the processor to store the information in a memory associated with a neurostimulation device programmer.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the neurostimulation therapy request includes one of a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, a request to start delivery of the neurostimulation therapy, and a request to stop delivery of the neurostimulation therapy.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the questions include a question relating to intake of medication by the patient, a question relating to a level of activity by the patient, a question relating to specification of one or more sites of pain within the patient, and a query relating to a degree of pain relief achieved by the neurostimulation therapy.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the questions further include a question relating to a quality of pain experienced by the patient.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the questions include a question relating to one of a pain syndrome and a movement disorder.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the questions are formulated by a clinician responsible for care of the patient.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, wherein the instructions cause the processor to direct delivery of a response to the request.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the instructions cause the processor to direct delivery of a response to the request by directing one of delivering neurostimulation therapy to the patient, modifying one or more parameters associated with neurostimulation therapy delivered to the patient, and delivering a placebo neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

44. A method comprising:

receiving a neurostimulation therapy request from a patient via a neurostimulation therapy interface;

directing delivery of a response to the request;

selecting one or more questions based on a context associated with the request;

receiving answers to the selected questions from the patient via the neurostimulation therapy interface; and

storing information relating to the answers, a context associated with the requests, and one or more settings associated with the neurostimulation therapy.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the settings include pulse amplitude, pulse width, and pulse rate.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the information further relates to a date and time of the response.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the information relating to the context associated with the requests indicates whether the requests included a request to adjust the neurostimulation therapy, start the neurostimulation therapy, or stop the neurostimulation therapy.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein the neurostimulation therapy interface device includes a patient programmer device.