PROGRAMMING THERAPY DELIVERED BY IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20110172737A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Davenport, Lynn A., Goetz, Steven M., Davis, Jon P., Torgerson, Nathan A., Singal, Ashish, Dewing, Wende L., Sahasrabudhe, Rajeev M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,352,039 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques for programming stimulation therapy programs according to therapy targets (e.g., symptoms or areas of pain) in a patient to which they are applied. Several programs can be programmed for each therapy target, stored on an implantable medical device, and retrieved later by a programmer to modify, edit, delete, create, and/or select a therapy program for each of the therapy targets. Each therapy target is independent from the other therapy targets, and a user can select or change a program under one therapy target without affecting programs under the other therapy targets. During programming, a user can specify parameters for each program applicable to only that program, and can specify parameters for each therapy target applicable to every program associated with that therapy target. The organization of programs into slots and the selection of a program in each slot may be manual or automated.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

at least one processor configured to perform at least one of;

organizing a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs by therapy targets in a patient, wherein two or more of the electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

selecting one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the implantable electrical stimulator includes an electrical stimulator and implantable electrical stimulator elements that include one or more leads that deliver stimulation from the electrical stimulator to each therapy target.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs correspond to two or more postures of the patient.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises the implantable electrical stimulator, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the selecting.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the organizing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a programmer for the implantable electrical stimulator, the device further comprising:

a user interface that receives user input; and

a communication module that communicates with the implantable electrical stimulator.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the organizing, and wherein the communication module transfers the organized programs to the implantable electrical stimulator.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform the organizing and selecting, and wherein the communication module transfers the organized and selected programs to the implantable electrical stimulator.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the user input defines program parameters associated with each of the plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs, wherein program parameters are specific for the associated electrical stimulation therapy program.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the user input defines therapy target parameters associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy target parameters are specific for the associated therapy target and apply to the two or more programs associated with that therapy target.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the user input defines therapy program parameters associated with each of the two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy program parameters are specific for the associated therapy program.

12. A method comprising:

organizing a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs by therapy targets in a patient, wherein two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

selecting one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising defining program parameters associated with each of the plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs, wherein program parameters are specific for the associated electrical stimulation therapy program.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising defining therapy target parameters associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy target parameters are specific for the associated therapy target and apply to the two or more programs associated with that therapy target.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising defining therapy program parameters associated with each of the two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy program parameters are specific for the associated therapy program.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising transferring the organized programs to the implantable electrical stimulator.

17. A system comprising:

means for organizing a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs by therapy targets in a patient, wherein two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

means for selecting one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for defining program parameters associated with each of the plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs, wherein program parameters are specific for the associated electrical stimulation therapy program.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for defining therapy target parameters associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy target parameters are specific for the associated therapy target and apply to the two or more programs associated with that therapy target.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for defining therapy program parameters associated with each of the two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy program parameters are specific for the associated therapy program.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for transferring the organized programs to the implantable electrical stimulator.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a programmer for the implantable electrical stimulator, wherein the programmer comprises at least one of the means for organizing and the means for selecting.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the implantable electrical stimulator comprises at least one of the means for organizing and the means for selecting.

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

organize a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs by therapy targets in a patient, wherein two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

select one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to define program parameters associated with each of the plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs, wherein program parameters are specific for the associated electrical stimulation therapy program.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to define therapy target parameters associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy target parameters are specific for the associated therapy target and apply to the one or more programs associated with that therapy target.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to define therapy program parameters associated with each of the two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs associated with each of the two or more therapy targets, wherein the therapy program parameters are specific for the associated therapy program.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to transfer the organized programs to the implantable electrical stimulator.

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

a communication module that transfers a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs from a device, wherein the plurality of programs are organized by therapy targets in a patient, and wherein two or more electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more symptoms of a patient; and

a processor that controls selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy program for each of the therapy targets in response to the user input, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by the implantable electrical stimulator.

30. The programmer of claim 29, wherein the device comprises the implantable electrical stimulator.

31. The programmer of claim 29, wherein the device comprises another programmer for the implantable electrical stimulator.

32. A method comprising:

transferring a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs from a device, wherein the plurality of programs are organized by therapy targets in a patient, and wherein two or more of the electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

selecting one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the device comprises the implantable electrical stimulator.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the device comprises another programmer for the implantable electrical stimulator.

35. A system comprising:

means for transferring a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs from a device, wherein the plurality of programs are organized by therapy targets in a patient, and wherein two or more of the electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

means for selecting one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets in response to the user input, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.

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

transfer a plurality of electrical stimulation therapy programs from a device, wherein the plurality of programs are organized by therapy targets in a patient, and wherein two or more of the electrical stimulation therapy programs are associated with each of two or more therapy targets; and

select one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for each of the therapy targets, wherein selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for one of the therapy targets is independent of selection of one of the electrical stimulation therapy programs for another of the therapy targets, and wherein the selected electrical stimulation therapy programs are applied to the patient by an implantable electrical stimulator.