External presentation of electrical stimulation parameters

• US 20070055318A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Michaels, Matthew, Forsberg, John, Palm, Jeffrey, Kelly, Kevin, Deininger, Steven, Wosmek, Mark, McMullen, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 7,551,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/31
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

An external indicator device presents parameters associated with stimulation therapy generated by a pulse generator, which may be associated with an external or implantable stimulation device. In this manner, the external indicator device enables a user to visualize stimulation parameters without actually delivering stimulation therapy to a patient via implanted electrodes. The electrical stimulation parameters may include electrical amplitude levels, pulse widths, pulse rates, electrode combinations, and electrode polarities for stimulation generated by the pulse generator.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving electrical stimulation pulses applied by a pulse generator across a set of output terminals; and

indicating one or more parameters associated with the electrical stimulation pulses via an array of visual indicators, wherein each of the indicators corresponds to one of the output terminals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicators are physically arranged to represent relative positions of electrodes carried by one or more implantable leads.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indicators are arranged as a first column of indicators representing electrodes carried by a first implantable lead, and a second column of indicators representing electrodes carried by a second implantable lead.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameters include at least one of electrical voltage, electrical current, electrical energy, pulse width, pulse rate, and polarity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising indicating polarities of the stimulation pulses applied to the output terminals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicators include indicator lights, the method further comprising activating the indicator lights as a function of the stimulation pulses applied across the corresponding terminals.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising activating each of the corresponding indicator lights with an intensity proportional to one or more of the parameters.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the indicators includes a first indicator light and a second indicator light, the method further comprising activating the first indicator light to indicate positive polarity and activating the second indicator light to indicate negative polarity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first indicator light includes a first light emitting diode and the second indicator light includes a second light emitting diode, the first and second light emitting diodes being coupled in parallel with opposite polarities such that the first light emitting diode activates in response to a positive voltage and the second light emitting diode activates in response to a negative voltage.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicators are presented by a pixelized display device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are generated at a substantially slower pulse rate and a substantially longer pulse width than electrical stimulation pulses typically selected to provide stimulation therapy to a patient, thereby facilitating visual indication of the electrical parameters.

12. A device comprising:

an array of visual indicators that indicate one or more parameters associated with electrical stimulation pulses generated by a pulse generator across a set of output terminals; and

an interface that electrically couples the indicators to output terminals associated with the pulse generator, wherein each of the indicators corresponds to one of the output terminals.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the indicators are physically arranged to represent relative positions of electrodes carried by one or more implantable leads.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the indicators are arranged as a first column of indicators representing electrodes carried by a first implantable lead, and a second column of indicators representing electrodes carried by a second implantable lead.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the parameters include at least one of electrical voltage, electrical current, electrical energy, pulse width, pulse rate, and polarity.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the indicators indicate polarities of the stimulation pulses applied to the output terminals.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the indicators include indicator lights, the indicator lights being activated as a function of the stimulation pulses applied across the corresponding terminals.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein each of the corresponding indicator lights is activated with an intensity proportional to one or more of the parameters.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein each of the indicators includes a first indicator light and a second indicator light, the first indicator light being activated to indicate positive polarity and the second indicator light being activated to indicate negative polarity.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the first indicator light includes a first light emitting diode and the second indicator light includes a second light emitting diode, the first and second light emitting diodes being coupled in parallel with opposite polarities such that the first light emitting diode activates in response to a positive voltage and the second light emitting diode activates in response to a negative voltage.

21. The device of claim 12, further comprising a pixelized display device, wherein the indicators are presented by the pixelized display device.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are generated at a substantially slower pulse rate and a substantially longer pulse width than electrical stimulation pulses typically selected to provide stimulation therapy to a patient, thereby facilitating visual indication of the electrical parameters.

23. A system comprising:

a pulse generator that generates electrical stimulation pulses across a set of output terminals;

an indicator device having an array of visual indicators that indicate one or more parameters associated with the electrical stimulation pulses generated by a pulse generator; and

an interface that electrically couples the indicators to the output terminals, wherein each of the indicators corresponds to one of the output terminals.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the indicators are physically arranged to represent relative positions of electrodes carried by one or more implantable leads.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the indicators are arranged as a first column of indicators representing electrodes carried by a first implantable lead, and a second column of indicators representing electrodes carried by a second implantable lead.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the parameters include at least one of electrical voltage, electrical current, electrical energy, pulse width, pulse rate, and polarity.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the indicators indicate polarities of the stimulation pulses applied to the output terminals.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the indicators include indicator lights, the indicator lights being activated as a function of the stimulation pulses applied across the corresponding terminals.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein each of the corresponding indicator lights is activated with an intensity proportional to one or more of the parameters.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein each of the indicators includes a first indicator light and a second indicator light, the first indicator light being activated to indicate positive polarity and the second indicator light being activated to indicate negative polarity.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the first indicator light includes a first light emitting diode and the second indicator light includes a second light emitting diode, the first and second light emitting diodes being coupled in parallel with opposite polarities such that the first light emitting diode activates in response to a positive voltage and the second light emitting diode activates in response to a negative voltage.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the indicator device includes a pixelized display device, wherein the indicators are presented by the pixelized display device.

33. The system of claim 23, wherein the pulse generator generates the electrical stimulation pulses at a substantially slower pulse rate and a substantially longer pulse width than electrical stimulation pulses typically selected to provide stimulation therapy to a patient, thereby facilitating visual indication of the electrical parameters.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the pulse generator includes a pulse rate selector that receives input from a user to select the pulse rate at which the pulse generator generates electrical stimulation and selects the pulse rate based on input received from the user.

35. The system of claim 23, further comprising an external programmer to control the pulse generator.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the interface that electrically couples the indicators to the output terminals includes at least one medical lead carrying electrodes, wherein the lead includes conductors that couple the output terminals to the electrodes, and the electrodes are electrically coupled to the indicators.