MANAGING ELECTRICAL STIMULATION THERAPY BASED ON VARIABLE ELECTRODE COMBINATIONS

• US 20110093030A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gokaldas, Shyam, Goetz, Steven M., Davis, Jon P., Torgerson, Nathan A., Singal, Ashish, Huhta, Brent A., Sahasrabudhe, Rajeev M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,123 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/17
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Various programming techniques are described for medical devices that deliver electrical stimulation therapy that may include mapping between discrete electrical stimulation parameters and a graphical view of the electrical stimulation representing a stimulation zone generated by the parameters. In one example, a method includes receiving, via a programmer for an electrical stimulator, user input that graphically manipulates at least one of size and a shape of a graphical representation of at least one electrical stimulation zone displayed on the programmer, and defining a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy based on the user input.

Claims

1. A programmer for an implantable electrical stimulator, the programmer comprising:

a user interface that displays a graphically representation of at least one electrical stimulation zone and receives user input graphically manipulating at least one of a size and a shape of the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone; and

a processor configured to define a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy by a stimulator based on the user input, wherein the processor is further configured to;

define, without user intervention, at least one electrode on at least one lead to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy; and

determine, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

2. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises stretching the representation of the at least one stimulation zone.

3. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the user input further comprises moving the representation of the at least one stimulation zone from a first location on a display to a second location on the display.

4. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the user interface further receives user input that defines an intensity of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

5. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control at least one of a rate of change of a stretch of the at least one stimulation zone and a rate of change of a move of the at least one stimulation zone.

6. The programmer of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:

generate, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the at least one defined electrode based on the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode and a defined intensity.

7. The programmer of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by an electrode carried by a housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) based on the electrical stimulation amplitude generated by the at least one defined electrode.

8. The programmer of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to:

modify, without user intervention, the electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the electrode carried by the housing of the IMD in response to at least one of the user interface receiving user input graphically defining a representation of another electrical stimulation zone, the at least one electrical stimulation zone moving, and the at least one electrical stimulation zone stretching.

9. The programmer of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to a threshold value; and

determine whether the at least one defined electrode will be used to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy based on the comparison.

10. The programmer of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate and display to a user an indication of zone extent based upon the at least one defined electrode.

11. The programmer of claim 10, wherein the indication of zone extent displayed to the user provides a visual indication of a relative electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

12. The programmer of claim 6, wherein the user interface further receives at least one of user input that moves the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone, and user input that stretches the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

13. A method comprising:

receiving, via a programmer for an electrical stimulator, user input that graphically manipulates at least one of a size and a shape of a graphical representation of at least one electrical stimulation zone displayed on the programmer; and

defining a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy based on the user input, wherein defining the program comprises;

defining, without user intervention, at least one electrode on at least one lead to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy; and

determining, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user input comprises stretching the representation of the at least one stimulation zone.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the user input further comprises moving the representation of the at least one stimulation zone from a first location on a display to a second location on the display.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, via the programmer, user input that defines an intensity of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling at least one of a rate of change of a stretch of the at least one stimulation zone and a rate of change of a move of the at least one stimulation zone.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the at least one defined electrode based on the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode and a defined intensity.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by an electrode carried by a housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) based on the electrical stimulation amplitude generated by the at least one defined electrode.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

modifying, without user intervention, the electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the electrode carried by the housing of the IMD in response to at least one of the user interface receiving user input graphically defining a representation of another electrical stimulation zone, the at least one electrical stimulation zone moving, and the at least one electrical stimulation zone stretching.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

comparing the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to a threshold value; and

determining whether the at least one defined electrode will be used to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy based on the comparison.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating and displaying to a user an indication of zone extent based upon the at least one defined electrode.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the indication of zone extent displayed to the user provides a visual indication of a relative electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving, in the programmer, at least one of user input that moves the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone and user input that stretches the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

25. A programmer for an electrical stimulator, the programmer comprising:

means for receiving, via a programmer for an electrical stimulator, user input that graphically manipulates at least one of a size and a shape of a graphical representation of at least one electrical stimulation zone displayed on the programmer; and

means for defining a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy based on the user input, wherein the means for defining the program comprises;

means for defining, without user intervention, at least one electrode on at least one lead to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy; and

means for determining, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

26. The programmer of claim 25, wherein the user input comprises stretching the representation of the at least one stimulation zone.

27. The programmer of claim 25, wherein the user input further comprises moving the representation of the at least one stimulation zone from a first location on a display to a second location on the display.

28. The programmer of claim 25, further comprising:

means for receiving, via the programmer, user input that defines an intensity of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

29. The programmer of claim 25, further comprising:

means for controlling at least one of a rate of change of a stretch of the at least one stimulation zone and a rate of change of a move of the at least one stimulation zone.

30. The programmer of claim 25, further comprising:

means for generating, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the at least one defined electrode based on the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode and a defined intensity.

31. The programmer of claim 30, further comprising:

means for generating, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by an electrode carried by a housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) based on the electrical stimulation amplitude generated by the at least one defined electrode.

32. The programmer of claim 31, further comprising:

means for modifying, without user intervention, the electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the electrode carried by the housing of the IMD in response to at least one of the user interface receiving user input graphically defining a representation of another electrical stimulation zone, the at least one electrical stimulation zone moving, and the at least one electrical stimulation zone stretching.

33. The programmer of claim 30, further comprising:

means for comparing the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to a threshold value; and

means for determining whether the at least one defined electrode will be used to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy based on the comparison.

34. The programmer of claim 30, further comprising:

means for generating and displaying to a user an indication of zone extent based upon the at least one defined electrode.

35. The programmer of claim 34, wherein the indication of zone extent displayed to the user provides a visual indication of a relative electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

36. The programmer of claim 25, wherein the user input comprises at least one of the user interface receiving user input moving the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone, and the user interface receiving user input stretching the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

37. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause a processor in a programmer for an electrical stimulator to:

receive user input graphically manipulating at least one of a size and a shape of a graphical representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone displayed on the programmer; and

define a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy based on the user input, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to define the program comprise instructions that cause the processor to;

define, without user intervention, at least one electrode on at least one lead to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy; and

determine, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the user input comprises stretching the representation of the at least one defined stimulation zone.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the user input further comprises moving the representation of the at least one stimulation zone from a first location on a display to a second location on the display.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to:

receive user input that defines an intensity of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to:

control at least one of a rate of change of a stretch of the at least one stimulation zone and a rate of change of a move of the at least one stimulation zone.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to:

generate, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the at least one defined electrode based on the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode and a defined intensity.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to:

generate, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by an electrode carried by a housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) based on the electrical stimulation amplitude generated by the at least one defined electrode.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to:

modify, without user intervention, the electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the electrode carried by the housing of the IMD in response to at least one of the user interface receiving user input graphically defining a representation of another electrical stimulation zone, the at least one electrical stimulation zone moving, and the at least one electrical stimulation zone stretching.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 42, further comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause the processor to:

receive at least one of user input that moves the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone and user input that stretches the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

46. A system comprising:

an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to deliver electrical stimulation therapy to a patient;

a user interface that displays a graphical representation of at least one electrical stimulation zone and receives user input graphically manipulating at least one of a size and a shape of the representation of the at least one electrical stimulation zone; and

a processor configured to define a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy by a stimulator based on the user input, wherein the processor is further configured to;

define, without user intervention, at least one electrode on at least one lead to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy; and

determine, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

47. The system of claim 46, further comprising a programmer for programming the IMD that includes the user interface and the processor.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the user input comprises at least one of stretching the representation of the at least one stimulation zone and moving the representation of the at least one stimulation zone from a first location on a display to a second location on the display.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the user interface further receives user input that defines an intensity of the at least one electrical stimulation zone.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured to control at least one of a rate of change of a stretch of the at least one stimulation zone and a rate of change of a move of the at least one stimulation zone.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the processor is configured to:

generate, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the at least one defined electrode based on the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode and a defined intensity.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate, without user intervention, an electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by an electrode carried by a housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) based on the electrical stimulation amplitude generated by the at least one defined electrode.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the processor is further configured to:

modify, without user intervention, the electrical stimulation amplitude to be delivered by the electrode carried by the housing of the IMD in response to at least one of the user interface receiving user input graphically defining a representation of another electrical stimulation zone, the at least one electrical stimulation zone moving, and the at least one electrical stimulation zone stretching.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the processor is further configured to:

compare the determined electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to a threshold value; and

determine whether the at least one defined electrode will be used to deliver at least a portion of the electrical stimulation therapy based on the comparison.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate and display to a user an indication of zone extent based upon the at least one defined electrode.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the indication of zone extent displayed to the user provides a visual indication of a relative electrical stimulation contribution of the at least one defined electrode to the at least one stimulation zone.

57. A programmer for an implantable electrical stimulator, the programmer comprising:

a user interface that receives user input, the user input comprising graphically defining at least one electrical stimulation zone for at least one region of a patient; and

a processor that defines a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy by implantable electrical stimulator elements to at least one region of a patient based on the user input,

wherein the processor is configured to combine an anatomical representation of the at least one region with at least one image of the elements.

58. A method comprising:

receiving user input that graphically defines at least one electrical stimulation zone for at least one region of a patient;

combining an anatomical representation of the at least one region with at least one image of implantable electrical stimulator elements; and

defining a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy by the implantable electrical stimulator elements to the at least one region based on the user input.

59. A device comprising:

means for receiving user input that graphically defines at least one electrical stimulation zone for at least one region of a patient;

means for combining an anatomical representation of the at least one region with at least one image of implantable electrical stimulator elements; and

means for defining a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy by the implantable electrical stimulator elements to the at least one region based on the user input.

60. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause a processor to:

receive user input that graphically defines at least one electrical stimulation zone for at least one region of a patient;

combine an anatomical representation of the at least one region with at least one image of implantable electrical stimulator elements; and

define a program to control delivery of electrical stimulation therapy by the implantable electrical stimulator elements to the at least one region based on the user input.