SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING APPROPRIATE STEERING TABLES FOR DISTRIBUTING STIMULATION ENERGY AMONG MULTIPLE NEUROSTIMULATION ELECTRODES

• US 20100121409A1
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Karnati, Sivakumar, Woods, Carla Mann, Thacker, James R., Bradley, Kerry, Kothandaraman, Sridhar
• Application Number:
  US12/614,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20100121409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware

Abstract

A method, computer medium, and system for programming a control device are provided. The control device is configured for controlling electrical stimulation energy provided to a plurality of electrode leads that are physically implanted within a patient in a side-by-side lead configuration. Electrical energy is conveying from the electrode leads to create a stimulation region within the patient. The stimulation region is automatically shifted along the electrode leads (e.g., by selecting and using at least one navigation table) in accordance with an electrical current shifting pattern that is based on a stagger of the side-by-side lead configuration. At least one stimulation parameter set is selected based on the effectiveness of the shifted stimulation region, and the control device is programmed with the selected stimulation parameter set(s).

Claims

1. A method of programming a control device configured for controlling electrical stimulation energy provided to a plurality of electrode leads that are physically implanted within a patient in a side-by-side lead configuration, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of different lead stagger configurations;

selecting at least one navigation table that corresponds to the selected lead configuration from a plurality of different navigation tables, each of which includes a series of stimulation parameter sets;

stepping through the stimulation parameter sets of the at least one selected navigation table;

conveying electrical stimulation energy to the stimulation leads in accordance with the stepped through stimulation parameter sets;

selecting at least one stimulation parameter set based on the effectiveness of the conveyed electrical stimulation energy; and

programming the control device with the at least one selected stimulation parameter set.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is an implantable pulse generator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one control device is an external device configured for controlling the electrical stimulation energy output by an implantable device to the electrode leads.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode leads are implanted adjacent the spinal cord of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different lead stagger configurations comprises a non-staggered lead configuration and a staggered lead configuration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different lead stagger configurations comprises differently staggered lead configurations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation parameter sets respectively define different electrode combinations.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the stimulation parameter sets respectively define different amplitudes for each of the different electrode combinations.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the different amplitudes are fractionalized electrical current values.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected stimulation parameter set is one of the stepped through stimulation parameter sets.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the leads carries a plurality of electrodes, and wherein conveying electrical stimulation energy to the stimulation leads in accordance with the stepped through stimulation parameter sets results in the shifting of electrical current between the electrodes of the leads.

12. A computer readable medium for programming a control device configured for controlling electrical stimulation energy provided to multiple electrode leads that are physically implanted within a patient in a side-by-side lead configuration, the computer readable medium containing instructions, which when executed, comprises:

allowing one of a plurality of different lead stagger configurations to be selected;

selecting at least one navigation table that corresponds to the selected lead configuration from a plurality of different navigation tables, each of which includes a series of stimulation parameter sets;

stepping through the stimulation parameter sets of the at least one selected navigation table; and

selecting at least one stimulation parameter set for programming the control device.

13. The computer software medium of claim 12, wherein the plurality of different lead stagger configurations comprises a non-staggered lead configuration and a staggered lead configuration.

14. The computer software medium of claim 12, wherein the plurality of different lead stagger configurations comprises differently staggered lead configurations.

15. The computer software medium of claim 12, wherein the stimulation parameter sets respectively define different electrode combinations.

16. The computer software medium of claim 15, wherein the stimulation parameter sets respectively define different amplitudes for each of the different electrode combinations.

17. The computer software medium of claim 16, wherein the different amplitudes are fractionalized electrical current values.

18. The computer software medium of claim 12, wherein the at least one selected stimulation parameter set is one of the stepped through stimulation parameter sets.

19. A tissue stimulation system, comprising:

a plurality of electrode leads configured for being placed adjacent tissue of a patient in a side-by-side configuration;

an implantable device configured for conveying electrical stimulation energy to the electrode leads to stimulate the tissue;

a programming device configured for;

allowing one of a plurality of different lead stagger configurations to be selected;

selecting at least one navigation table that corresponds to the selected lead configuration from a plurality of different navigation tables, each of which includes a series of stimulation parameter sets;

stepping through the stimulation parameters sets of the at least one selected navigation table;

transmitting the stepped through stimulation parameter sets to the implantable device, wherein the implantable device is configured for conveying the electrical stimulation energy in accordance the stepped through stimulation parameter sets;

selecting at least one stimulation parameter set; and

programming the implantable device with the at least one selected stimulation parameter set.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the implantable device is an implantable pulse generator.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the programming device is a computer.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the programming device is a hand-held remote control.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of different lead stagger configurations comprises a non-staggered lead configuration and a staggered lead configuration.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of different lead stagger configurations comprises differently staggered lead configurations.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the stimulation parameter sets respectively define different electrode combinations.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the stimulation parameter sets respectively define different amplitudes for each of the different electrode combinations.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the different amplitudes are fractionalized electrical current values.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one selected stimulation parameter set is one of the stepped through stimulation parameter sets.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the leads carries a plurality of electrodes, and wherein the implantable device is configured for conveying the electrical stimulation energy in accordance the stepped through stimulation parameter sets to shift electrical current between the electrodes of the leads.

30-84. -84. (canceled)