Electrical and activation field models for programming a stimulation lead with complex electrode array geometry

• US 20070203540A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Stone, Richard T., Wahlstrand, Carl D., Ball, Warren W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,415 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to programming implantable stimulators to deliver stimulation energy via one or more implantable leads having complex electrode array geometries. A programmer is configured to generate an electrical field model from selected stimulation parameters and patient anatomy data. The electrical field model indicates how the electrical field propagation would occur in the patient during therapy. In addition, the programmer may be configured to generate an activation field model from the electrical field model and a neuron model. The activation field indicates which neurons within the electrical field will be activated during the therapy. Either of these field models may be presented to the user via a user interface that also displays a representation of the lead implanted within the patient. The user interface may allow the user to adjust the stimulation therapy by manipulating displayed field or activation model representations.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a patient anatomy data set that describes at least one characteristic of patient tissue proximate to an electrical stimulation lead having a complex electrode array geometry implanted within a patient;

receiving user input that defines stimulation parameter values;

generating a stimulation field model that represents where electrical stimulation will propagate from the electrical stimulation lead based upon the patient anatomy data set and stimulation parameter values; and

displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with a representation of the electrical stimulation lead.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving stimulation field input from a user that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the stimulation field model relative to the representation of the electrical stimulation lead; and

determining at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the stimulation field model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input that defines stimulation parameter values comprises receiving selection of one or more electrodes of the lead via interaction with the representation of the lead.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input that defines stimulation parameter values comprises receiving user input drawing a stimulation field on the representation of the lead.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving user input that defines stimulation parameter values comprises:

presenting a representation of a stimulation field on the representation of the lead; and

receiving user input modifying the representation of the stimulation field.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a neuron model that describes at least one characteristic of patient neural tissue proximate to the electrical stimulation lead implanted within the patient;

generating an activation field model indicates which neural structures of the patient are activated by applying the stimulation field model to the neuron model; and

displaying the activation field model in conjunction with the representation of the lead.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving activation field input from a user that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the activation field model relative to the representation of the electrical stimulation lead; and

determining at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the activation field model.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with a representation of the electrical stimulation lead comprises displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with a side view and a cross-sectional view of the representation of the lead.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with a representation of the electrical stimulation lead comprises displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with at least one of a side view and a concentric axial view of the representation of the lead.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with a representation of the electrical stimulation lead comprises displaying the stimulation field model in conjunction with an unwrapped two-dimensional array view of the representation of the lead.

11. A system comprising:

a programmer comprising;

a communications module that receives a patient anatomy data set that describes at least one characteristic of patient tissue proximate to an electrical stimulation lead having a complex electrode array geometry implanted within a patient;

a user interface that receives user input that defines stimulation parameter values; and

a processor that generates a stimulation field model that represents where electrical stimulation will propagate from the electrical stimulation lead based upon the patient anatomy data set and stimulation parameter values, and displays the stimulation field model in conjunction with a representation of the electrical stimulation lead via the user interface.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor receives stimulation field input via the user interface that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the stimulation field model relative to the displayed anatomical region, and determines at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the stimulation field model.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface receives selection of one or more electrodes of the lead via interaction with the representation of the lead as user input that defines stimulation parameter values.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface receives user input drawing a stimulation field on the representation of the lead as user input that defines stimulation parameter values.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface presents a representation of a stimulation field on the representation of the lead, and receives user input modifying the representation of the stimulation field as user input that defines stimulation parameter values.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor generates a neuron model that describes at least one characteristic of patient neural tissue proximate to the electrical stimulation lead implanted within the patient, generates an activation field model indicates which neural structures of the patient are activated by applying the stimulation field model to the neuron model, and displays the activation field model in conjunction with the representation of the lead via the user interface.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor:

receives activation field input from a user that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the activation field model relative to the representation of the electrical stimulation lead; and

determines at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the activation field model.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface displays the stimulation field model in conjunction with a side view and a cross-sectional view of the representation of the lead.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface displays the stimulation field model in conjunction with at least one of a side view and a concentric axial view of the representation of the lead.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface displays the stimulation field model in conjunction with an unwrapped two-dimensional array view of the representation of the lead.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a touchscreen or a pointing device.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the programmer comprises at least one of a patient programmer or a clinician programmer.

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

receive a patient anatomy data set that describes at least one characteristic of patient tissue proximate to an electrical stimulation lead having a complex electrode array geometry implanted within a patient;

receive user input that defines stimulation parameter values;

generate a stimulation field model that represents where electrical stimulation will propagate from the electrical stimulation lead based upon the patient anatomy data set and stimulation parameter values; and

display the stimulation field model in conjunction with a representation of the electrical stimulation lead.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive stimulation field input from a user that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the stimulation field model relative to the representation of the electrical stimulation lead; and

determine at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the stimulation field model.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

generate a neuron model that describes at least one characteristic of patient neural tissue proximate to the electrical stimulation lead implanted within the patient;

generate an activation field model indicates which neural structures of the patient are activated by applying the stimulation field model to the neuron model; and

display the activation field model in conjunction with the representation of the lead.

26. A method comprising:

receiving a patient anatomy data set that describes at least one characteristic of patient neural tissue proximate to an electrical stimulation lead having a complex electrode array geometry implanted within a patient;

receiving user input that defines stimulation parameter values;

generating an activation field model indicates which neural structures of the patient are activated based on the patient anatomy data set and stimulation parameter values; and

displaying the activation field model over the representation of the lead.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving user input that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the activation field model relative to the representation of the lead; and

determining at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the stimulation field model.

28. A system comprising:

a communications module that receives a patient anatomy data set that describes at least one characteristic of patient neural tissue proximate to an electrical stimulation lead having a complex electrode array geometry implanted within a patient;

a user interface that receives user input that defines stimulation parameter values; and

a processor that generates an activation field model that indicates which neural structures of the patient are activated based on the patient anatomy data set and stimulation parameter values, and displays the activation field model on the representation of the lead via the user interface.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor receives user input that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the activation field model relative to the representation of the lead, and determines at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the activation field model.

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

receive a patient anatomy data set that describes at least one characteristic of patient neural tissue proximate to an electrical stimulation lead having a complex electrode array geometry implanted within a patient;

receive user input that defines stimulation parameter values;

generating an activation field model indicates which neural structures of the patient are activated based on the patient anatomy data set and stimulation parameter values; and

display the activation field model over the representation of the lead.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive user input that modifies at least one of the size, shape or location of the activation field model relative to the representation of the lead; and

determine at least one new stimulation parameter value based on the modification of the stimulation field model.