Management of neurostimulation therapy using parameter sets

• US 20040199217A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vinup, Daniel K., Goetz, Steven M., Lee, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

An implantable medical device delivers neurostimulation therapy to a patient according to a parameter set. A parameter set may consist of a number of programs that are delivered substantially simultaneously. When programming the implantable medical device for the patient, a clinician programmer may maintain a session log for the patient that includes a listing of programs delivered to the patient and rating information provided by a clinician and the patient for programs of the list. The listing may be ordered according to the rating information in order to facilitate the selection of programs for a parameter set. A program library that may include particularly effective programs organized according to a directory structure may be stored in a memory. One or both of the implantable medical device and a patient programmer may store usage information that provides an objective and accurate record of therapy use by the patient, and allows a clinician to later improve the therapy based on the usage information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a plurality of parameter sets within a memory of an implantable medical device, each of the parameter sets including a plurality of programs, and each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

delivering neurostimulation therapy to a patient via the implantable medical device according to one of the parameter sets.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering neurostimulation therapy comprises delivering electrical pulses via selected electrodes of an electrode set, and the neurostimulation therapy parameters include at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, selected electrodes, and polarities of selected electrodes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein delivering neurostimulation therapy according to one of the parameter sets comprises:

delivering each of the electrical pulses according to one of the programs associated with the parameter set; and

cycling through the programs by selecting a new program for each of the pulses delivered.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering neurostimulation therapy comprises:

receiving a parameter set selection from the patient via a patient programmer associated with the patient; and

delivering neurostimulation therapy according to the selected parameter set.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein receiving a parameter set selection comprises:

providing a list of the stored parameter sets for display to the patient via the patient programmer; and

receiving a selection from the list made by the patient via the patient programmer.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an adjustment to the parameter set via a programmer associated with the patient; and

storing the adjusted parameter set in the memory.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising applying the adjustment to a parameter within a program of the set.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising applying the adjustment to a parameter within each of the programs of the set.

9. An implantable medical device comprising:

a memory to store a plurality of parameter sets, each of the parameter sets including a plurality of programs, and each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

a processor to control delivery of neurostimulation therapy to a patient according to one of the parameter sets.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the processor controls delivery neurostimulation therapy by controlling delivery of electrical pulses via selected electrodes of an electrode set, and the neurostimulation therapy parameters include at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, selected electrodes, and polarities of the selected electrodes.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 10, wherein the processor controls delivery of each of the electrical pulses according to one of the programs associated with the parameter set, and cycles through the programs by selecting a new program for each of the pulses delivered.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the processor receives a parameter set selection from the patient via a patient programmer associated with the patient, and controls delivery of neurostimulation therapy according to the selected parameter set.

13. The implantable medical device of claim 12, wherein the processor provides a list of the stored parameter sets for display to a patient via the patient programmer, and receives a selection from the list made by the patient via the programmer.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein the processor receives an adjustment to the parameter set via a patient programmer associated with the patient, and stores the adjusted parameter set in the memory.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein the processor applies the adjustment to a parameter within a program of the set.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein the processor applies the adjustment to a parameter within each of the programs of the set.

17. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

store a plurality of parameter sets within a memory of an implantable medical device, each of the parameter sets including a plurality of programs, and each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

control delivery of neurostimulation therapy to a patient via the implantable medical device according to one of the parameter sets.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions cause a processor to control delivery of electrical pulses, and the neurostimulation therapy parameters include at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, electrodes, and electrode polarities.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to control delivery of neurostimulation therapy according to one of the parameter sets comprise instructions that cause a processor to:

control delivery of each of the electrical pulses according to one of the programs associated with the parameter set; and

cycle through the programs by selecting a new program for each of the pulses delivered.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

receive a parameter set selection from the patient via a patient programmer associated with the patient; and

control delivery of neurostimulation therapy according to the selected parameter set.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

provide a list of the stored parameter sets for display to a patient via the patient programmer; and

receive a selection from the list made by the patient via the patient programmer.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive an adjustment to the parameter set via a patient programmer associated with the patient; and

store the adjusted parameter set in the memory.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions cause a processor to apply the adjustment to a parameter within a program of the set.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions cause a processor to apply the adjustment to a parameter within each of the programs of the set.

25. A method comprising:

displaying a list of parameter sets stored in a memory of an implantable medical device to a patient; and

providing a selection made from the list by the patient to the implantable medical device for delivery of neurostimulation therapy by the implantable medical device according to the selected parameter set, wherein each of the parameter sets stored in the memory of the implantable medical device includes a plurality of programs, and each of the programs includes a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a shortcut to a parameter set selected from the list of parameter sets.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein providing a shortcut comprises associating at least one of a an icon provided via a display and a button of a user input device with the parameter set.

28. A device comprising:

a display to provide information to a patient; and

a processor to display a list of parameter sets stored in a memory of an implantable medical device via the display, and provide a selection made from the list by the patient to the implantable medical device for delivery of neurostimulation therapy by the implantable medical device according to the selected parameter set, wherein each of the parameter sets stored in the memory of the implantable medical device includes a plurality of programs, and each of the programs includes a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the processor provides a shortcut to a parameter set selected from the list of parameter sets.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor provides a shortcut by displaying an icon associated with the selected parameter set via the display.

31. The device of claim 29, further comprising user input buttons, wherein the processor associates the selected parameter set with one of the buttons.

32. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

display a list of parameter sets stored in a memory of an implantable medical device to a patient via a display; and

provide a selection made from the list by the patient to the implantable medical device for delivery of neurostimulation therapy by the implantable medical device according to the selected parameter set, wherein each of the parameter sets stored in the memory of the implantable medical device includes a plurality of programs, and each of the programs includes a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to provide a shortcut to a parameter set selected from the list of parameter sets.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to provide a shortcut comprise instructions that cause a processor to display an icon associated with the selected parameter set via the display.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to provide a shortcut comprise instructions that cause a processor to associate the selected parameter set with a button of a user input device.