NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH ADJUSTABLE PROGRAMMING RATE

• US 20110257707A1
• Filed: 04/19/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kothandaraman, Sridhar
• Application Number:
  US13/090,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20110257707A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Neurostimulation systems, control systems, and methods for providing therapy to a patient are provided. Electrical stimulation energy is delivered to a tissue region in accordance with different stimulation parameter sets. The delivered electrical stimulation energy is incrementally transitioned through a first series of the different stimulation parameter sets at a user-defined rate in response to a single user actuation of a control mechanism. The user-defined rate is adjusted, and the delivered electrical stimulation energy is incrementally transitioned through a second series of the different stimulation parameter sets at the adjusted rate in response to a single user actuation of the control mechanism.

Claims

1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:

a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to a tissue region in accordance with different stimulation parameter sets; and

an external control device configured for, in response to a single user actuation of a control mechanism, instructing the neurostimulator to incrementally transition the delivered electrical stimulation energy through the different stimulation parameter sets at a user-adjustable rate.

2. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the different parameter sets respectively contain different active electrode combinations.

3. The neurostimulation system of claim 2, wherein the electrode combinations are fractionalized electrode combinations.

4. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the different parameter sets respectively contain different values for at least one of a pulse amplitude, a pulse width, and a pulse rate.

5. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the user-adjustable rate is a function of a time interval between immediately adjacent incremental transitions of the delivered electrical stimulation energy.

6. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the user-adjustable rate is a function of a magnitude difference between immediately adjacent stimulation parameter values within the different stimulation parameter sets.

7. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the external control device is further configured for programming at least one of the stimulation parameter sets into the neurostimulator.

8. The neurostimulation system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is a computer icon.

9. A neurostimulation control system for a neurostimulator that conveys electrical stimulation energy to a tissue region in accordance with different electrical stimulation parameter sets, comprising:

a control mechanism configured for being actuated by a user;

at least one processor configured for generating the different stimulation parameter sets in response to a single user actuation of the control mechanism;

telemetry circuitry configured for transmitting the different stimulation parameters to the neurostimulator, such that the neurostimulator incrementally transitions the delivered electrical stimulation energy through the different stimulation parameter sets at a defined rate; and

a user interface configured for allowing a user to adjust the defined rate.

10. The neurostimulation control system of claim 9, wherein the different parameter sets respectively contain different active electrode combinations.

11. The neurostimulation control system of claim 10, wherein the electrode combinations are fractionalized electrode combinations.

12. The neurostimulation control system of claim 9, wherein the different parameter sets respectively contain different values for at least one of a pulse amplitude, a pulse width, and a pulse rate.

13. The neurostimulation control system of claim 9, wherein the defined rate is a function of the inverse of a time interval between immediately adjacent incremental transitions of the delivered electrical stimulation energy.

14. The neurostimulation control system of claim 9, wherein the defined rate is a function of a magnitude difference between immediately adjacent stimulation parameter values within the different stimulation parameter sets.

15. The neurostimulation control system of claim 9, wherein the control mechanism is a computer icon.

16. A method of providing therapy to a patient, comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation energy to a tissue region in accordance with different stimulation parameter sets;

incrementally transitioning the delivered electrical stimulation energy through a first series of the different stimulation parameter sets at a user-defined rate in response to a single user actuation of a control mechanism;

adjusting the user-defined rate; and

incrementally transitioning the delivered electrical stimulation energy through a second series of the different stimulation parameter sets at the adjusted rate in response to a single user actuation of the control mechanism.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the different parameter sets respectively contain different active electrode combinations.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrode combinations are fractionalized electrode combinations.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the different parameter sets respectively contain different values for at least one of a pulse amplitude, a pulse width, and a pulse rate.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the defined rate is a function of the inverse of a time interval between immediately adjacent incremental transitions of the delivered electrical stimulation energy.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the defined rate is a function of a magnitude difference between immediately adjacent stimulation parameter values within the different stimulation parameter sets.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising programming at least one of the second series of stimulation parameter sets into the memory of a neurostimulation device.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is a computer icon.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein the control mechanism is a directional device.