System and method for choosing electrodes in an implanted stimulator device

• US 20060195159A1
• Filed: 12/05/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Manola, Ljubomir, Bradley, Kerry, Holsheimer, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 10,537,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3614 based on impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

Abstract

A method of selecting of subset of electrodes in a stimulator device implanted in a patient for further clinical evaluation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises measuring at least first and second measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes that are indicative of the ability of the electrode if activated to provide useful therapy to the patient in which the stimulator device is implanted, such as electrode impedance, field potential, and nerve response. The measurements can be objective such as those measurements just mentioned, or can comprise subjective measurements which are quantified in response to qualitative feedback from the patient. A weight is then determined for each of the measurements, which may be a predetermined weight or determined on the basis of the variance of the measurement between the electrodes. The weight is then applied to each electrode measurement, which measurement may be normalized, and the weighted measurements for each electrode are preferably summed to arrive at a value which itself is indicative of a particular electrode'"'"'s ability to provide useful therapy to the patient. These values can then be used to determine a subset of the electrodes useful for further clinical evaluation in the patient, which improved the accuracy and speeding determining appropriate patient therapy.

Claims

1. A method of selecting, for further clinical evaluation, a subset of electrodes from a plurality of electrodes of a stimulator device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

(a) taking a first measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the first measurement is indicative of the ability of the electrode if activated to provide useful therapy to the patient in which the stimulator device is implanted;

(b) taking at least a second additional measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the at least second measurement is indicative of the ability of the electrode if activated to provide useful therapy to the patient in which the stimulator device is implanted;

(c) determining a weight for each of the measurements;

(d) applying the weight to each of the measurements to arrive at a value for each of the electrodes; and

(e) using the values to determine a subset of electrodes for further clinical evaluation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements are selected from the group consisting of electrode impedance, field potential, and nerve response.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the measurements further comprise a quantitative value indicative of user feedback based on stimulation of a given electrode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements are objective.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measurements are objective and subjective.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the weight to each of the measurements to arrive at the value for each of the electrodes comprises multiplying the weight for each measurement by the measurement for each electrode, and summing the multiplied results for each electrode.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein one measurement comprises or is indicative of the thickness of the cerebro-spinal fluid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the measurements is normalized before applying the weight to each of the measurements to arrive at a value for each of the electrodes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight for at least one measurement is determined by an assessment of the variance of the measurement between the plurality of electrodes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight for at least one measurement is predetermined.

11. A method of selecting, for further clinical evaluation, a subset of electrodes from a plurality of electrodes of a stimulator device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

(a) taking a first measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes;

(b) taking at least a second additional measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes;

(c) applying a weight to each of the first and at least second measurements;

(d) processing the weighted measurements for each electrode to arrive at a value for each electrode; and

(e) using the values to determine a subset of electrodes for further clinical evaluation.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the measurements are selected from the group consisting of electrode impedance, field potential, and nerve response.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the measurements further comprise a quantitative value indicative of user feedback based on stimulation of a given electrode.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein applying the weight to each of the measurements to arrive at the value for each of the electrodes comprises multiplying the weight for each measurement by the measurement for each electrode, and summing the multiplied results for each electrode.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein one measurement comprises or is indicative of the thickness of the cerebro-spinal fluid.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the measurements is normalized before applying the weight to each of the measurements to arrive at a value for each of the electrodes.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the weight for at least one measurement is determined by an assessment of the variance of the measurement between the plurality of electrodes.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the weight for at least one measurement is predetermined.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein processing the weighted measurements for each electrode comprises summing the weighted measurements for each electrode.

20. A method of selecting, for further clinical evaluation, a subset of electrodes from a plurality of electrodes of a stimulator device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

(a) taking a first measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the first measurement is indicative of the ability of the electrode if activated to provide useful therapy to the patient in which the stimulator device is implanted;

(b) taking at least a second additional measurement different from the first measurement for each of the plurality of electrodes, wherein the at least second measurement is indicative of the ability of the electrode if activated to provide useful therapy to the patient in which the stimulator device is implanted;

(d) calculating a value for each of the electrodes using the measurements for each electrode; and

(e) using the values to determine a subset of electrodes for further clinical evaluation.