User interface with 3D environment for configuring stimulation therapy

• US 20070203545A1
• 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., Otten, Lynn M., Wahlstrand, Carl D., Ball, Warren W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,024 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 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36153 Voltage A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36192 Amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 : for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

The disclosure describes a method and system that allows a user to configure electrical stimulation therapy by defining a three-dimensional (3D) stimulation field. After a stimulation lead is implanted in a patient, a clinician manipulates the 3D stimulation field in a 3D environment to encompass desired anatomical regions of the patient. In this manner, the clinician determines which anatomical regions to stimulate, and the system generates the necessary stimulation parameters. In some cases, a lead icon representing the implanted lead is displayed to show the clinician where the lead is relative to the 3D anatomical regions of the patient.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

representing a three-dimensional (3D) anatomical region of a patient in a 3D environment;

representing a 3D stimulation field within the 3D anatomical region;

receiving stimulation field input from a user defining the 3D stimulation field in the 3D environment; and

generating electrical stimulation parameters in a programming device based upon the 3D stimulation field and a location of at least one electrode within patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation parameters define an electrode combination from a complex electrode array geometry.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

representing an electrical stimulation lead as a lead icon in the 3D environment; and

positioning the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient in the 3D environment based on a physical location of the electrical stimulation lead in the patient.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein positioning the lead icon comprises receiving directional user input specifying placement of the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein positioning the lead icon comprises:

receiving information regarding the physical location of the electrical stimulation lead in the patient; and

automatically positioning the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient in the 3D environment based on the information.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying an oblique plane of the 3D anatomical region that includes a central axis of the lead icon; and

receiving stimulation field input from the user defining a two-dimensional (2D) stimulation field on the oblique plane.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising imaging an anatomical structure of the patient to generate the 3D anatomical region of the patient in the 3D environment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving stimulation field input comprises receiving input that defines at least one of a size, shape, or location of the stimulation field.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving input that defines at least one of a size, shape, or location of the stimulation field comprises receiving input that drags a boundary of the stimulation field.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving stimulation field input comprises receiving input that drags the stimulation field to a location within the 3D anatomical region.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving stimulation field input comprises receiving input highlighting a portion of the 3D anatomical region.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving stimulation field input comprises receiving input that selects a predefined stimulation field and places the stimulation field at a location within the 3D anatomical region.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein generating electrical stimulation parameters comprises:

selecting at least one predefined volumetric stimulation field template that substantially fills the 3D stimulation field; and

selecting electrical parameters corresponding to the predefined volumetric stimulation field.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an error value based on a volume of extraneous tissue that would be stimulated by delivery of stimulation according to the generated electrical stimulation parameters;

comparing the error value to a threshold value; and

prompting a user based on the comparison.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an error value based on a volume of tissue within the stimulation field that would not be stimulated by delivery of stimulation according to the generated electrical stimulation parameters;

comparing the error value to a threshold value; and

prompting a user based on the comparison.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein representing a 3D anatomical region of the patient comprises representing at least one of a cerebrum, a cerebellum, and a brain stem.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein representing a 3D anatomical region of the patient comprises representing at least one of a substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, globus pallidus interna, ventral intermediate, and zona inserta.

18. A system comprising:

a user interface that provides a three-dimensional (3D) environment; and

a processor that represents a 3D stimulation field within a 3D anatomical region of a patient within the 3D environment, receives stimulation field input from a user via the user interface defining the 3D stimulation field within the 3D environment, and generates electrical stimulation parameters based upon the 3D stimulation field and a location of at least one electrode within patient.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrical stimulation parameters define an electrode combination from a complex electrode array geometry.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor represents an electrical stimulation lead as a lead icon within the 3D environment, and positions the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient based on a physical location of the electrical stimulation lead in the patient.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor receives directional user input via the user interface specifying placement of the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor receives information regarding the physical location of the electrical stimulation lead in the patient, and automatically positions the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient in the 3D environment based on the information.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising an imaging device that generates images of the anatomy of the patient, wherein the processor represents the 3D anatomical region of the patient within the 3D environment based on the images.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor receives input that defines at least one of a size or shape of the stimulation field via the user interface.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the processor receives input that drags a boundary of the stimulation field to define the size or shape of the stimulation field via the user interface.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor receives input that drags the stimulation field to a location within the 3D anatomical region.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor receives input highlighting a portion of the 3D anatomical region to define the 3D stimulation field.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor receives input that selects a predefined stimulation field and places the stimulation field at a location within the 3D anatomical region.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor selects at least one predefined volumetric stimulation field template that substantially fills the defined 3D stimulation field, and selects electrical parameters corresponding to the predefined volumetric stimulation field.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor determines an error value based on a volume of extraneous tissue that would be stimulated by delivery of stimulation according to the generated electrical stimulation parameters, compares the error value to a threshold value, and prompts a user via the user interface based on the comparison.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises at least one of a joystick, a pointing device, a touch screen, a keyboard, or a spatial recognition device that receives the stimulation field input.

32. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface includes a two-dimensional (2D) display that simulates 3D images to provide the 3D environment.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a holographic display, a stereoscopic display, an autostereoscopic display, or a head-mounted 3D display to provide the 3D environment.

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

represent a three-dimensional (3D) anatomical region of a patient in a 3D environment;

represent a 3D stimulation field within the 3D anatomical region;

receive stimulation field input from a user defining the 3D stimulation field in the 3D environment; and

generate electrical stimulation parameters in a programming device based upon the 3D stimulation field and a location of at least one electrode within patient.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

represent an electrical stimulation lead as a lead icon in the 3D environment; and

position the lead icon relative to the 3D anatomical region of the patient in the 3D environment based on a physical location of the electrical stimulation lead in the patient.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

identify an oblique plane of the 3D anatomical region that includes a central axis of the lead icon; and

receive stimulation field input from the user defining a two-dimensional (2D) stimulation field on the oblique plane.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to receive stimulation field input comprise instructions that cause a processor to receive input that defines at least one of a size or shape of the stimulation field.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to receive input that defines at least one of a size or shape of the stimulation field comprise instructions that cause a processor to receive input that drags a boundary of the stimulation field.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to receive stimulation field input comprise instructions that cause a processor to receiving input that drags the stimulation field to a location within the 3D anatomical region.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to receive stimulation field input comprise instructions that cause a processor to receive input highlighting a portion of the 3D anatomical region.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to receive stimulation field input comprise instructions that cause a processor to receive input that selects a predefined stimulation field and places the stimulation field at a location within the 3D anatomical region.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to generate electrical stimulation parameters comprise instructions that cause a processor to:

select at least one predefined volumetric stimulation field template that substantially fills the 3D stimulation field; and

select electrical parameters corresponding to the predefined volumetric stimulation field.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

determine an error value based on a volume of extraneous tissue that would be stimulated by delivery of stimulation according to the generated electrical stimulation parameters;

compare the error value to a threshold value; and

prompt a user based on the comparison.