BRAIN STIMULATION PROGRAMMING

• US 20130138176A1
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,849,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

A programming system allows a user to program therapy parameter values for therapy delivered by a medical device by specifying a desired therapeutic outcome. In an example, the programming system presents a model of a brain network associated with a patient condition to the user. The model may be a graphical representation of a network of anatomical structures of the brain associated with the patient condition and may indicate the functional relationship between the anatomical structures. Using the model, the user may define a desired therapeutic outcome associated with the condition, and adjust excitatory and/or inhibitory effects of the stimulation on the anatomical structures. The system may determine therapy parameter values for therapy delivered to the patient based on the user input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

defining, using a processor, a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient, wherein the model of the network includes at least one link indicating a functional relationship between at least a first anatomical structure and a second anatomical structure;

sensing activity in at least the first anatomical structure in response to therapy delivered to the second anatomical structure; and

adjusting, based on the sensed activity, at least one of the functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure and the therapy delivered to the second anatomical structure.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional relationship between the first and second anatomical structures is patient specific.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein defining the model of the network of interconnected anatomical structures comprises defining the model based on a functional magnetic resonance image of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional relationship between the first and second anatomical structures is disease-specific.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein identities of the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure are disease-specific.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the therapy delivered to the second anatomical structure based on sensed activity comprises adjusting the therapy to achieve a desired therapeutic effect.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure comprises adjusting the functional relationship in response to a sensed change in therapeutic outcome in response to delivery of the therapy.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein defining the model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient comprises accessing a stored model network based on a patient condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure comprises adjusting the functional relationship based on disease progression.

10. A system comprising:

a sensor configured to sense activity in at least a first anatomical structure of a patient in response to therapy delivered to a second anatomical structure of the patient; and

a processor configured to;

define a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of the patient, wherein the model of the network includes at least one link indicating a functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure; and

adjust, based on the sensed activity, at least one of the functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure and the therapy delivered to the second anatomical structure.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the functional relationship between the first and second anatomical structures is patient-specific.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to define the model of the network of interconnected anatomical structures based on a functional magnetic resonance image of the patient.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the functional relationship between the first and second anatomical structures is disease-specific.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein identities of the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure are disease-specific.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the therapy delivered to achieve a desired therapeutic effect.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure in response to a sensed change in therapeutic outcome in response to the delivery of therapy.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising a memory, the memory storing a plurality of model networks, wherein the processor is further configured to access at least one of the stored model networks based on a patient condition, and define the model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures based on the accessed stored model network.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure based on disease progression.

19. A system comprising:

means for defining a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient, wherein the model of the network includes at least one link indicating a functional relationship between at least a first anatomical structure and a second anatomical structure;

means for sensing activity in at least the first anatomical structure in response to therapy delivered to the second anatomical structure; and

means for adjusting based on the sensed activity, at least one of the functional relationship between the first anatomical structure and the second anatomical structure, and the therapy delivered to the second anatomical structure.