METHOD FOR AUTOMATION OF THERAPY-BASED PROGRAMMING IN A TISSUE STIMULATOR USER INTERFACE

• US 20140172045A1
• Filed: 12/06/2013
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Yip, Anita, Rao, Prakash, Zottola, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 9,656,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• 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 method for programming a neurostimulator includes automatically performing a series of steps. One or more control elements may be actuated to select the series of steps from a plurality of series of steps stored in a memory of an external control device. One or more control elements may be actuated during the performance of the series of steps in order to cause one of the steps to pause, stop, restart, skip, or repeat. The series of steps may be a series of pre-programming steps, and the method may further include programming the neurostimulator after the series of pre-programming steps is performed. An external device for programming the neurostimulator includes control circuitry configured for automatically performing the series of steps, and a user interface including the one or more control elements configured for being actuated. The control device also includes the memory for storing the plurality of series of steps.

Claims

1. An external control device for programming a neurostimulator in communication with the external control device, comprising:

control circuitry configured for automatically performing a series of steps; and

a user interface including one or more control elements configured for being actuated during the performance of the series of steps to prompt the control circuitry to pause, stop, restart, skip, or repeat one of the steps.

2. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a monitor configured for displaying which step in the series is currently being performed.

3. The external control device of claim 1, further comprising memory configured for storing a plurality of different series of steps, wherein the user interface includes another one or more control elements configured for being actuated to prompt the control circuitry to select the series of steps from the stored plurality of series of steps.

4. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises one or more of a mouse, a trackball, a touchpad, and a joystick configured for allowing the user to actuate the one or more control elements.

5. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a digitizer screen configured for allowing the user to actuate the one or more control elements.

6. The external control device of claim 1, wherein the series of steps is a series of pre-programming steps, and the user interface includes another one or more control elements configured for being actuated to prompt the control circuitry to program the neurostimulator after the series of pre-programming steps is performed.

7. The external control device of claim 6, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining one or more initial programming parameters selected from the group consisting of:

pulse amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, pulse shape, pulse waveform, and pre-pulsing.

8. The external control device of claim 6, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining a configuration of a lead coupled to the neurostimulator.

9. The external control device of claim 6, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining at least one current steering parameter selected from the group consisting of:

resolution, focus, start point, end point, directionality, and path.

10. The external control device of claim 6, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining an electrode configuration.

11. The external control device of claim 6, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining at least one stimulation limitation selected from the group consisting of:

maximum pulse amplitude, minimum pulse amplitude, maximum pulse width, minimum pulse width, maximum pulse rate, and minimum pulse rate.

12. A method for programming a neurostimulator in communication with an external control device including one or more control elements, comprising:

automatically performing a series of steps; and

actuating the one or more control elements during the performance of the series of steps to cause one of the steps to pause, stop, restart, skip, or repeat.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying which step in the series is currently being performed.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the series of steps from a plurality of series of steps stored in a memory of the external control device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the series of steps is a series of pre-programming steps, and the method further comprises programming the neurostimulator after the series of pre-programming steps is performed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining one or more initial programming parameters selected from the group consisting of:

pulse amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, pulse shape, pulse waveform, and pre-pulsing.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining a configuration of a lead coupled to the neurostimulator.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining at least one current steering parameter selected from the group consisting of:

resolution, focus, start point, end point, directionality, and path.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining an electrode configuration.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein one of the pre-programming steps comprises defining at least one stimulation limitation selected from the group consisting of:

maximum pulse amplitude, minimum pulse amplitude, maximum pulse width, minimum pulse width, maximum pulse rate, and minimum pulse rate.

21-70. -70. (canceled)