IDENTIFYING AN AREA FOR ELECTRICAL STIMULATION TO TREAT A PATIENT

• US 20130060299A1
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Polefko, Richard J., Wilder, Steven E., Leyh, Scott G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• 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

A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, having a programmer for identifying an area for electrical stimulation to treat a patient. The programmer includes a communication interface, a display screen, and a user interface. The communication interface communicates with the electrical stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation and the display screen displays a patient model. The user interface receives user input identifying an area of pain on the patient model via a selection of the area of the body part. The programmer then associates the area of pain identified with a spinal column location, and displays on the display screen a suggested medical lead position and/or a suggested stimulation area on an image of a spinal column based on the step of associating.

Claims

1. A method of identifying an area for electrical stimulation with a stimulation system for treating a patient, the stimulation system comprising a programmer configured to communicate with an electrical stimulation generator, the method comprising:

displaying a patient model on a display screen of the programmer;

receiving, by the programmer, user input identifying an area of pain on the patient model via a selection of the area of the body part;

associating the area of pain identified with a spinal column location; and

displaying on the display screen a suggested medical lead position on an image of a spinal column based on the step of associating.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, displaying a suggested stimulation area on the image of the spinal column based on the step of associating.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein displaying the suggested stimulation area further includes displaying a target area within the stimulation area.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

receiving, by the programmer, positioning input that indicates a position of a medical lead implanted in the patient with respect to the spinal column;

and

displaying a representation of the medical lead on the image of the spinal column in an anatomically correct location, in an actual orientation, and with an anatomically correct size, based on the positioning input.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising,

determining an expected stimulation field based on the positioning input and stimulation parameters;

and

displaying the expected stimulation field on the image of the spinal column.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising,

driving the medical lead with the electrical stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation according to the expected stimulation field.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising,

receiving manipulations, via a graphical user interface, of one of a graphical boundary and graphical position of the expected stimulation field;

and

driving the medical lead with the electrical stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation according to the expected stimulation field as manipulated.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising,

generating electrical stimulation, with the programmer, the electrical stimulation generator, and the medical lead, at a first series of discrete locations, consecutively, wherein the first series of discrete locations at least partially overlaps the suggested stimulation area;

and

receiving patient feedback indicating the efficacy of the electrical stimulation for each location of the first series of discrete locations.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising,

generating electrical stimulation, with the programmer, the electrical stimulation generator, and the medical lead, at a second series of discrete locations, consecutively, wherein the second series of discrete locations is within a subset of the first series of discrete locations;

receiving additional patient feedback indicating the efficacy of the electrical stimulation for each location of the second series of discrete locations; and

identifying a subset of the second set of discrete locations for targeted electrical stimulation based on the additional patient feedback.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising,

generating electrical stimulation, with the programmer, the electrical stimulation generator, and the medical lead, at the identified subset of the second set of discrete locations.

11. A stimulation system for identifying an area for electrical stimulation to treat a patient, the stimulation system comprising:

an electrical stimulation generator;

a medical lead coupled to the electrical stimulation generator; and

a programmer including

a communication interface that communicates with the electrical stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation,

a display screen that displays a patient model, and

user interface that receives user input identifying an area of pain on the patient model via a selection of the area of the body part;

wherein the programmer

associates the area of pain identified with a spinal column location; and

displays a suggested medical lead position on an image of a spinal column based on the step of associating.

12. The stimulation system of claim 11, wherein the programmer displays a suggested stimulation area on the image of the spinal column based on the step of associating.

13. The stimulation system of claim 12, wherein displaying the suggested stimulation area further includes displaying a target area within the stimulation area.

14. The stimulation system of claim 11, wherein

the user interface receives positioning input that indicates a position of a medical lead implanted in the patient with respect to the spinal column;

and

the display screen displays a representation of the medical lead on the image of the spinal column in an anatomically correct location, in an actual orientation, and with an anatomically correct size, based on the positioning input.

15. The stimulation system of claim 14, wherein

the programmer determines an expected stimulation field based on the positioning input and stimulation parameters;

and

the display screen displays the expected stimulation field on the image of the spinal column.

16. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generate electrical stimulation according to the expected stimulation field.

17. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein

the user interface is a graphical user interface and receives manipulations of one of a graphical boundary and graphical position of the expected stimulation field;

and

the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generate electrical stimulation according to the expected stimulation field as manipulated.

18. The stimulation system of claim 14, wherein

the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generates electrical stimulation at a first series of discrete locations, consecutively, wherein the first series of discrete locations at least partially overlaps the suggested stimulation area;

and

the user interface receives patient feedback indicating the efficacy of the electrical stimulation for each location of the first series of discrete locations.

19. The stimulation system of claim 18, wherein

the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generate electrical stimulation at a second series of discrete locations, consecutively, wherein the second series of discrete locations is within a subset of the first series of discrete locations;

the user interface receives additional patient feedback indicating the efficacy of the electrical stimulation for each location of the second series of discrete locations; and

the programmer identifies a subset of the second set of discrete locations for targeted electrical stimulation based on the additional patient feedback.

20. The stimulation system of claim 19, wherein the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generate electrical stimulation at the identified subset of the second set of discrete locations.

21. A programmer of a stimulation system used to identify an area for electrical stimulation to treat a patient, the stimulation system including an electrical stimulation generator and a medical lead coupled to the electrical stimulation generator, the programmer comprising:

a communication interface that communicates with the electrical stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation,

a display screen that displays a patient model, and

user interface that receives user input identifying an area of pain on the patient model via a selection of the area of the body part;

wherein the programmer

associates the area of pain identified with a tissue location; and

displays a suggested medical lead position on an image of a tissue based on the step of associating.

22. The programmer of claim 21, wherein the programmer displays a suggested stimulation area on the image of the tissue based on the step of associating.

23. The programmer of claim 21, wherein

the user interface receives positioning input that indicates a position of a medical lead implanted in the patient with respect to the tissue;

and

the display screen displays a representation of the medical lead on the image of the tissue in an anatomically correct location, in an actual orientation, and with an anatomically correct size, based on the positioning input.

24. The programmer of claim 23, wherein the programmer

determines an expected stimulation field based on the positioning input and stimulation parameters;

and

displays, on the display screen, the expected stimulation field on the image of the tissue.

25. The programmer of claim 24, wherein the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generate electrical stimulation according to the expected stimulation field.

26. The programmer of claim 24, wherein

the user interface is a graphical user interface and receives manipulations of one of a graphical boundary and graphical position of the expected stimulation field;

and

the electrical stimulation generator drives the medical lead to generate electrical stimulation according to the expected stimulation field as manipulated.

27. The programmer of claim 21 wherein the tissue is a spinal column.