POSITIONING LEADS ON PATIENT MODEL USING A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

• US 20130060300A1
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Nuvectra Corporation
• Inventors: Polefko, Richard J., Wilder, Steven E., Leyh, Scott G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,048 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, for storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient. A communication unit is configured to receive, from a first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to a spinal column of the patient and an anatomically correct image of the spinal column. The communication unit is further configured to forward the position data, and to transmit both to a second programmer. The second programmer is then able to display a representation of the implanted medical lead on the anatomically correct image in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation based on the position data.

Claims

1. A method of storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient for use with a stimulation system for treating the patient, the stimulation system including

an electrical stimulation generator having a memory and a communication unit, the electrical stimulation generator being coupled to the implanted medical lead having a plurality of electrodes, and

a first programmer and a second programmer configured to communicate with the electrical stimulation generator via the communication unit,

the method comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to an anatomically correct representation of a spinal column for the patient;

storing the position data in the memory; and

transmitting the position data to the second programmer via the communication unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

receiving, from the first programmer, an anatomically correct image of the spinal column of the patient, the image being the anatomically correct representation;

storing the anatomically correct image in the memory; and

transmitting the anatomically correct image to the second programmer via the communication unit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the anatomically correct representation of the spinal column on a display screen of the second programmer; and

displaying, on the display screen of the second programmer, a representation of the implanted medical lead on the spinal column in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation based on the position data received from the first programmer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving, from the second programmer, a modified stimulation program specifying a second set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the second set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the position data is initially input to the first programmer via a graphical user interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is implanted within the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising,

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

displaying an anatomically correct image of the spinal column on a display screen of the first programmer;

displaying a representation of the implanted medical lead on the anatomically correct image in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation; and

transmitting, by the first programmer, the position data that indicates the actual position of the implanted medical lead.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is implanted within the patient.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising, transmitting, by the first programmer, the anatomically correct image to the communication unit for storage in the memory.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

displaying a second anatomically correct image of the spinal column on a display screen of the second programmer; and

displaying, on the display screen of the second programmer, the representation of the implanted medical lead on the second anatomically correct image in the anatomically correct location and in the actual orientation based on the position data.

13-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A method of storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient for use with a stimulation system for treating the patient, the stimulation system including

an electrical stimulation generator having a memory and a communication unit, the electrical stimulation generator being coupled to the implanted medical lead having a plurality of electrodes, and

a first programmer and a second programmer configured to communicate with the electrical stimulation generator via the communication unit,

the method comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to an anatomically correct representation of a spinal column for the patient;

receiving, from the first programmer, an anatomically correct image of the spinal column of the patient;

receiving, from the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters;

storing the position data in the memory;

storing the anatomically correct image in the memory;

transmitting the position data to the second programmer via the communication unit; and

transmitting the anatomically correct image to the second programmer via the communication unit.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising,

displaying the anatomically correct representation of the spinal column on a display screen of the second programmer;

and

displaying, on the display screen of the second programmer, a representation of the implanted medical lead on the spinal column in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation based on the position data.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving, from the second programmer, a modified stimulation program specifying a second set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the second set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the position data is initially input to the first programmer via a graphical user interface.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is implanted within the patient.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising,

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

displaying an anatomically correct image of the spinal column on a display screen of the first programmer;

displaying a representation of the implanted medical lead on the anatomically correct image in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation; and

transmitting, by the first programmer, the position data that indicates the actual position of the implanted medical lead.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is implanted within the patient.

32. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

transmitting, by the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.