Methods and systems for patient adjustment of parameters for an implanted stimulator

• US 20050143781A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Bradley, Kerry, Parramon, Jordi
• Application Number:
  US11/066,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143781A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/11
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A method of adjusting operation of a stimulator for treatment of a patient using the stimulator includes adjusting stimulation parameters of the stimulator subsequent to a fitting session with a clinician, where the adjusting is performed by the patient who has the stimulator. A system for patient adjustment of operation of a stimulator used by the patient subsequent to a fitting session with a clinician includes an external device for communicating with the stimulator and a user interface of the external device configured to receive input from the patient to adjust stimulation parameters of the stimulator.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting operation of a stimulator for treatment of a patient using said stimulator, said method comprising:

adjusting stimulation parameters of said stimulator subsequent to a fitting session with a clinician,

wherein said adjusting is performed by said patient who has said stimulator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulation parameters comprise amplitude, frequency or pulse width.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said stimulation parameters comprise pulse shape or burst duty cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting which stimulation parameters are available for adjustment by said patient.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting limits within which one or more of said stimulation parameters can be adjusted by said patient.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a log of adjustments to said stimulation parameters made by said patient.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising recording patient comments in said log.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising uploading said log to a web server.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising downloading said log for access by a clinician treating said patient.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising resetting said stimulator to original stimulation parameters established by said clinician at said fitting session.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a patient'"'"'s condition during said adjustment.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing a log of said patient'"'"'s condition being monitored.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting said log to said clinician treating said patient.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising signaling an emergency if said patient condition being monitored exceeds a predetermined threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising deactivating said stimulator in response to said emergency.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising returning said stimulator to initial stimulation parameters established during said clinician at said fitting session in response to said emergency.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising timing a trial period during which said patient adjustment of said stimulation parameters is permitted.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, when said trial period has elapsed, returning said stimulator to initial stimulation parameters established by said clinician at said fitting session.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising, when said trial period has elapsed, deactivating said stimulator.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising, when said trial period has elapsed, accepting no further adjustments of said stimulation parameters.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulator is an implanted stimulator and said adjusting stimulation parameters includes transcutaneously communicating with said implanted stimulator.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting is performed by said patient with a remote control unit.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising providing a tutorial with a user interface of said remote control unit to instruct said patient about said stimulation parameters.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising testing said patient with said remote control unit following said tutorial to assess patient understanding of subjects covered by said tutorial.

25. A system for patient adjustment of operation of a stimulator used by the patient subsequent to a fitting session with a clinician, said system comprising:

an external device for communicating with said stimulator; and

a user interface of said external device configured to receive input from said patient to adjust stimulation parameters of said stimulator.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said external device comprises a remote control unit.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said external device comprises a base station and chair pad.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said stimulation parameters comprise amplitude, frequency or pulse width.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein said stimulation parameters comprise pulse shape or burst duty cycle.

30. The system of claim 25, further comprising limits in said external device on which stimulation parameters are available for adjustment by said patient.

31. The system of claim 25, further comprising limits in said external device within which one or more of said stimulation parameters can be adjusted by said patient.

32. The system of claim 25, further comprising a memory unit in said external device for storing a log of adjustments to said stimulation parameters made by said patient.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein said user interface receives, and said memory unit stores, patient comments for said log.

34. The system of claim 32, further comprising a communications link for transmitting said log for access by said clinician treating said patient.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein said communications link is an Internet connection for transmitting said log to a web server.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein said user interface further comprises a reset control for resetting said stimulator to original stimulation parameters established by said clinician at said fitting session.

37. The system of claim 25, further comprising a patient monitor for monitoring a patient'"'"'s condition during said adjustment.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising a memory for storing a log of said patient'"'"'s condition being monitored.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising a communications link for transmitting said log to said clinician treating said patient.

40. The system of claim 37, further comprising an emergency signaling system for signaling an emergency if said patient condition being monitored exceeds a predetermined threshold.

41. The system of claim 25, further comprising a timer in said external device for timing a trial period during which said patient adjustment of said stimulation parameters is permitted.

42. The system of claim 25, wherein said stimulator is an implanted stimulator and said external device communicates with said implanted stimulator adjusting stimulation transcutaneously.

43. The system of claim 25, further comprising a tutorial stored electronically in said external device for instructing said patient through said user interface about said stimulation parameters or said external device.

44. A remote control unit for patient control of a stimulator used by said patient, said remote control unit comprising:

a processor;

a user interface; and

a memory unit comprising a tutorial for instructing said patient through said user interface about said remote control unit or said stimulator.

45. The unit of claim 44, further comprising a test stored in said memory unit for testing said patient through said user interface to assess said patient'"'"'s understanding of subject matter covered by said tutorial.

46. The unit of claim 45, wherein a “

play”

mode is enabled if said patient passes said test, said “

play”

mode allowing said patient to make adjustments to actual stimulation parameters of said stimulator.

47. A system for allowing a patient who is being treated with a stimulator to adjust operation of said stimulator subsequent to a fitting session with a clinician, said system comprising:

means for patient-adjustment of stimulation parameters of said stimulator subsequent to said fitting session with a clinician; and

means for recording adjustments to said stimulation parameters made by said patient subsequent to said fitting session.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said stimulation parameters comprise amplitude, frequency or pulse width.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein said stimulation parameters comprise pulse shape or burst duty cycle.

50. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for limiting which stimulation parameters are available for adjustment by said patient.

51. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for limiting a range within which one or more of said stimulation parameters can be adjusted by said patient.

52. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for receiving and recording patient comments regarding said patient-adjustment of said stimulation parameters.

53. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for resetting said stimulator to original stimulation parameters established by said clinician at said fitting session.

54. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for monitoring a patient'"'"'s condition during said adjustment.

55. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for signaling an emergency if said patient condition being monitored exceeds a predetermined threshold.

56. The system of claim 47, further comprising means for timing a trial period during which said patient adjustment of said stimulation parameters is permitted.

57. The system of claim 47, wherein said stimulator is an implanted stimulator and said adjusting stimulation parameters includes transcutaneously communicating with said implanted stimulator.