METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING STIMULATION PULSES DURING THE PROGRAMMING OF AN IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR

• US 20130172956A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Goddard, Crystal, Pounds, Jason, Younker, Tom, Overton, Karen, Avedikian, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3615 Intensity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36164 Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37241 providing test stimulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for the controlling of the stimulation pulses being delivered via electrodes to a patient during the programming of a pulse generator using a controller device and selecting of a minimum amplitude that corresponds to the minimum amplitude for which the patient can detect stimulation; selecting an electrode combination defined in the controller device; setting the stimulation amplitude; making a determination of the amplitude for the stimulation pulses is greater than the perception amplitude, and if so, changing the amplitude of the stimulation pulses to be less than or equal to the perception amplitude; and if not or subsequent to the changing of the amplitude, changing the selected one of a plurality of electrode combinations to a different combination.

Claims

1. A method for controlling stimulation pulses applied via a plurality of electrodes to tissue of a patient during the programming of a pulse generator using a controller device by a user, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of electrode combinations defined in the controller device;

setting the value for a stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses to be applied to the electrodes of the selected electrode combination;

receiving input from the user to change the selected one of the plurality of electrode combinations to a different one of the plurality of electrode combinations;

determining if the value for the stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses is different than a predetermined value, and if the determination is positive, automatically changing the value for stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses to be equal to the predetermined value; and

if the determination is negative or subsequent to the changing of the value for the stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses, changing the selected one of a plurality of electrode combinations to the different one of the plurality of electrode combinations.

2. The method of claim 1, determining a perception value corresponding to the minimum stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses where the patient perceives stimulation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined value is the determined perception value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stimulation parameter is the amplitude of the stimulation pulses.

5. The method of claim 1, determining a comfort value corresponding to the maximum stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses where the patient is comfortable receiving stimulation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determined value is the determined comfort value.

7. A method for controlling stimulation pulses applied via a plurality of electrodes to tissue of a patient during the programming of a pulse generator using a controller device by a user, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of electrode combinations defined in the controller device;

setting the amplitude for the stimulation pulse to be applied to the electrodes of the selected electrode combination; and

receiving input from the user to change the selected one of the plurality of electrode combinations to a different one of the plurality of electrode combinations;

determining if the amplitude for the stimulation pulses is greater than a predetermined amplitude value, and if the determination is positive, automatically changing the amplitude of the stimulation pulses to be equal to or less than the select predetermined value; and

if the determination is negative or subsequent to the changing the amplitude of the stimulation pulses, changing the selected one of a plurality of electrode combinations to the different one of the plurality of electrode combinations.

8. The method of claim 7, determining a perception value corresponding to the minimum amplitude for the stimulation pulses where the patient perceives stimulation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined value is the determined perception value.

10. The method of claim 7, determining a comfort value corresponding to the maximum stimulation parameter for the stimulation pulses where the patient is comfortable receiving stimulation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determined value is the determined comfort value.

12. A method for controlling stimulation pulses delivered via a plurality of electrodes to tissue of a patient during the programming of a pulse generator using a controller device by a user, comprising:

selecting a perception amplitude corresponding to the minimum amplitude of the stimulation pulses for which the patient can detect stimulation;

selecting one of a plurality of electrode combinations defined in the controller device;

setting the amplitude for the stimulation pulses to be applied to the electrodes of the selected electrode combination;

receiving input from the user to change the selected one of the plurality of electrode combinations to a different one of the plurality of electrode combinations;

determining if the amplitude for the stimulation pulses is greater than the perception amplitude, and if the determination is positive, automatically changing the amplitude of the stimulation pulse to less than or equal to the perception amplitude; and

if the determination is negative or subsequent to the changing of the amplitude for the stimulation pulses to be less than or equal to the perception amplitude, changing the selected one of a plurality of electrode combinations to the different one of the plurality of electrode combinations.