User interface with toolbar for programming electrical stimulation therapy

• US 20080154340A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Davis, Jon P., Keacher, Jeffrey T., Dewing, Wende L., Rondoni, John, Miyazawa, Gabriela C., King, Gary W., Sahasrabudhe, Rajeev
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,060 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• 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 a user interface with a menu that facilitates stimulation therapy programming. The user interface displays a representation of the electrical leads implanted in the patient and at least one menu with icons that the user can use to adjust the stimulation therapy. The user may drag one or more field shapes from a field shape selection menu onto the desired location relative to the electrical leads. A manipulation tool menu may also allow the user to adjust the field shapes placed on the electrical leads, which represent the stimulation region. The programmer that includes the user interface then generates electrical stimulation parameter values for the stimulator to deliver stimulation according to the field shapes or field shape groups defined/located by the user. The field shapes may represent different types of stimulation representations, such as current density, activation functions, and neuron models.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

presenting on a display at least one view of a representation of a stimulation region and a first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region;

presenting on the display a manipulation tool menu having at least one icon that allows manipulation of the at least one first field shape group;

receiving manipulation input manipulating the at least one first field shape group to form a second field shape group in the representation of the stimulation region; and

generating electrical stimulation parameter values based upon the second field shape group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the at least one field shape group occurs after the first field shape group is placed within the stimulation region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving manipulation input comprises receiving a selection of the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a move icon for moving the first field shape group to another location within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a rotate icon for rotating the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a stretch icon for stretching the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a grow icon for increasing a size of the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a shrink icon for decreasing a size of the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises at least one icon for changing a size of the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group, the method further comprising presenting user input media for receiving size changing input on the display in response to selection of the icon for changing the size, the user input media comprising at least one of a slider bar, arrow, plus and minus buttons, or handles on a perimeter of the first field shape group on the display.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating one or more intermediate field shape groups between the first field shape group and the second field shape group, wherein the one or more intermediate field shape groups each have a specific set of electrical stimulation parameter values.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the one or more intermediate field shape groups minimize an abrupt change in patient perception during stimulation therapy changes in real time.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting on the display an implementation toolbar having icons that control the change in stimulation between the first field shape group and the second field shape group in the time domain.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting on the display a field shape selection menu that contains at least the first field shape group.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the first field shape group modifies a default set of stimulation parameter values of the first field shape group.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying each of the first field shape group and the second field shape group as at least one of an activation function, a predicted neuron activation, or a current density.

16. A programmer comprising:

a display;

a processor that presents on the display at least one view of a representation of a stimulation region, a first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region, and a manipulation tool menu having at least one icon that allows manipulation of the first field shape group; and

a user interface that receives manipulation input manipulating the at least one first field shape group to form a second field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region,

wherein the processor generates electrical stimulation parameter values based upon the second field shape group.

17. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the processor allows manipulation of the first field shape group after the first field shape group is placed within the representation of the stimulation region.

18. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a move icon for moving the first field shape group to another location within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

19. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a rotate icon for rotating the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

20. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a stretch icon for stretching the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

21. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a grow icon for increasing a size of the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

22. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises a shrink icon for decreasing a size of the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group.

23. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu comprises at least one icon for changing a size of the first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region to form the second field shape group, and the processor presents user input media for receiving size changing input on the display in response to selection of the icon for changing the size received via the user interface, the user input media comprising at least one of a slider bar, arrow, plus and minus buttons, or handles on a perimeter of the first field shape group on the display.

24. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the processor generates one or more intermediate field shape groups between the first field shape group and the second field shape group, wherein the one or more intermediate field shape groups each have a set of electrical stimulation parameter values.

25. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the processor presents on the display an implementation toolbar having icons that control the change in stimulation therapy between the first field shape group and the second field shape group in the time domain.

26. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the user interface comprises the display.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to present on the display an implementation toolbar having icons that control the change in stimulation therapy between the first field shape group and the second field shape group in the time domain.

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

present on a display at least one view of a representation of a stimulation region and a first field shape group within the representation of the stimulation region;

present on the display a manipulation tool menu having at least one icon that allows manipulation of the first field shape group;

receive manipulation input manipulating the at least one first field shape group to form a second field shape group; and

generate electrical stimulation parameter values based upon the second field shape group.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the at least one icon of the manipulation tool menu is at least one of a move icon, a rotate icon, a stretch icon, a grow icon, or a shrink icon.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to generate one or more intermediate field shape groups between the first field shape group and the second field shape group, wherein the one or more intermediate field shape groups each have a specific set of electrical stimulation parameter values.