NEUROSTIMULATION THERAPY USAGE DIAGNOSTICS

• US 20070156186A1
• Filed: 03/13/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lee, Michael, Goetz, Steven, Vinup, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• 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 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

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 assessment 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 therapy parameter sets within a memory, wherein each of the therapy parameter sets includes at least one program, and each of the programs includes a plurality of therapy parameters;

receiving subjective rating information relating to effectiveness of delivery of therapy according to the parameter sets in treating symptoms of a patient and side effects experienced by the patient due to the delivery of therapy according to the parameter sets;

storing the rating information and information relating to use of the therapy parameter sets to control delivery of therapy within the memory in association with the respective parameter sets; and

providing the stored rating and usage information to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises the memory of at least one of an implantable medical device or a programming device associated with the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stored rating and usage information comprises providing the rating and usage information via a programming device associated with the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stored information comprises displaying a histogram that illustrates percentages of a period of time that each of the parameter sets was used to deliver therapy to the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the stored information comprises providing a diagram that illustrates which of the parameter sets was being used to deliver therapy at various times throughout a day.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information relating to therapy activation and deactivation; and

providing a diagram that illustrates the overall usage of therapy during consecutive time periods based on the activation and deactivation information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the stored information comprises depicting a calendar, and the time periods include one of days and weeks.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the stored usage information; and

suggesting therapy options to the user based on the analysis.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a clinician.

10. A method comprising:

recording information relating to use of a plurality of therapy parameter sets to deliver therapy to a patient, wherein each of the parameter sets includes at least one program, and each of the programs includes a plurality of therapy parameters;

analyzing the recorded information; and

suggesting therapy options to a user based on the analysis.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein analyzing the recorded information comprises identifying a frequently used one of the parameter sets, and suggesting therapy options comprises suggesting additional therapy programs that are similar to programs of the frequently used parameter set.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein suggesting additional programs comprises comparing the programs of the frequently used parameter set to programs identified by at least one of a session log that identifies programs tested on the patient during a programming session and a program library that stores programs according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the programs.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein analyzing recorded information comprises identifying an infrequently used one of the parameter sets, and suggesting therapy options comprises marking the infrequently used parameter set for removal from a list of parameter sets used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

recording information relating to therapy activation and deactivation; and

displaying a diagram that illustrates overall usage of neurostimulation therapy during consecutive time periods based on the activation and deactivation information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying a diagram that illustrates the overall usage of neurostimulation therapy during consecutive time periods comprises displaying a depiction of a calendar, and the time periods include one of days and weeks.

16. A method comprising:

recording information relating to use of therapy programs by a medical device to deliver therapy to a patient, each of the programs including a plurality of therapy parameters; and

displaying a histogram that illustrates percentages of a period of time that each of the programs was used to provide therapy to the patient.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying a diagram that illustrates which of the programs was being used to provide neurostimulation therapy at various times throughout a day.

18. A method of evaluating stimulation sets comprising:

applying electrical stimulation pulses to a patient, wherein the electrical stimulation pulses are generated by a pulse generating device and are defined by at least one stimulation set;

determining a frequency of use for each stimulation set; and

retrievably storing the frequency and the associated stimulation sets in a database.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising storing patient feedback for each of the stimulation sets in the database.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving the patient feedback using an interactive display screen.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising using the database to select stimulation sets for future stimulation sessions.