NEUROSTIMULATION SYSTEM WITH ON-EFFECTOR PROGRAMMER CONTROL

• US 20120290041A1
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Chester, Lui, Mun Pook, Bradley, Kerry
• Granted Patent: US 8,977,360 B2
• 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

Abstract

An external control device for use with a programmable implantable medical device coupled to an operative element. The external control device comprises a user interface comprising a control element and a display screen configured for displaying a graphical representation of the operative element. The external control device further comprises control circuitry configured for prompting the display screen to superimpose a graphical programmer control over the graphical representation of the operative element when the control element is actuated, and modifying an operational parameter for the operative element in response to actuation of the graphical programmer control. The external control device further comprises output circuitry configured for transmitting the modified operational parameter to the programmable implantable medical device.

Claims

1. An external control device for use with a programmable implantable medical device coupled to an operative element, comprising:

a user interface comprising a control element and a display screen configured for displaying a graphical representation of the operative element;

control circuitry configured for prompting the display screen to superimpose a graphical programmer control over the graphical representation of the operative element when the control element is actuated, and modifying an operational parameter for the operative element in response to actuation of the graphical programmer control; and

output circuitry configured for transmitting the modified operational parameter to the programmable implantable medical device.

2. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the operative element is an end effector.

3. The external control device of claim 2, wherein the end effector is an electrode.

4. The external control device of claim 3, wherein the implantable medical device is a neurostimulation device, and the operational parameter is a stimulation parameter.

5. The external control device of claim 4, wherein the graphical programmer control comprises at least one stimulation amplitude control element, the stimulation parameter comprises a stimulation amplitude value for the electrode, and the control circuitry is configured for modifying the stimulation amplitude value in response to actuation of the at least one stimulation amplitude control element.

6. The external control device of claim 5, wherein the stimulation amplitude value is an electrical current value.

7. The external control device of claim 6, wherein the electrical current value is a fractionalized electrical current value.

8. The external control device of claim 5, wherein the at least one stimulation amplitude control element comprises an up arrow control element and a down arrow control element, wherein the control circuitry is configured for increasing the stimulation amplitude value in response to actuation of the up arrow control element, and for decreasing the stimulation amplitude value in response to actuation of the down arrow control element.

9. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical programmer control further comprises at least one polarity control element, the stimulation parameter comprises a polarity for the electrode, and the control circuitry is configured for modifying the polarity in response to actuation of the at least one polarity control element.

10. The external control device of claim 9, wherein the at least one polarity control element comprises a positive polarity control element and a negative polarity control element, wherein the control circuitry is configured for setting the polarity of the electrode to a positive polarity in response to actuation of the positive polarity control element, and for setting the polarity of the electrode to a negative polarity in response to actuation of the negative polarity control element.

11. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a display element incorporated within the graphical programmer control, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured for prompting the display element to display a status of the modified operational element.

12. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the control element is a graphical control element.

13. The external control device of claim 12, wherein the graphical control element is the graphical representation of the operative element.

14. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical control element occupies more area on the display screen than does the graphical representation of the operative element.

15. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the graphical control element surrounds the graphical representation of the operative element.

16. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device is further coupled to other operative elements, the display screen is configured for displaying graphical representations of the other operative elements, and the graphical programmer control does not obscure any of the graphical representations of the other operative elements.

17. The external control device of claim 16, wherein the display screen is configured for displaying programming information within the graphical representations of the other operative elements, and the graphical programmer control does not obscure any of the programming information.

18. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the output circuitry comprises telemetry circuitry.

19. The external control device of claim 1, further comprising a case containing the user interface, control circuitry, and output circuitry.