SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING TISSUE STIMULATION PROGRAMS IN A FORMAT USABLE BY AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT STEERING NAVIGATOR

• US 20160158566A1
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Thacker, James R., Moffitt, Michael A., Bradley, Kerry, Peterson, David K.L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,878,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A method, computer medium, and system for programming a controller is provided. The controller controls electrical stimulation energy output to electrodes, and stores a set of programmed stimulation parameters associated with the electrodes. The programmed stimulation parameter set is compared with sets of reference stimulation parameters, each of the reference sets of stimulation parameters being associated with the electrodes. If an identical match is determined between the programmed stimulation parameter set and any one of the reference stimulation parameter sets exists based on the comparison, the identically matched stimulation parameter set is selected as an initial stimulation parameter set. If an identical match does not exist, a best between the programmed stimulation parameter set and the reference stimulation parameter sets is determined and selected as the initial stimulation parameter set. The controller is then programmed with a new set of programmable stimulation parameters based on the initial stimulation parameter set.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of programming a controller that controls electrical stimulation energy output to a plurality of electrodes, the controller storing a set of programmed stimulation parameters associated with the plurality of electrodes, the method comprising:

comparing the programmed stimulation parameter set with a plurality of sets of reference stimulation parameters, each of the reference sets of stimulation parameters being associated with the plurality of electrodes;

determining if an identical match between the programmed stimulation parameter set and any one of the reference stimulation parameter sets exists based on the comparison;

selecting an identically matched stimulation parameter set as an initial stimulation parameter set or determining a best fit between the programmed stimulation parameter set and the reference stimulation parameter sets and selecting the best fit stimulation parameter set as the initial stimulation parameter set when an identical match does not exist; and

programming the controller with a new set of programmable stimulation parameters based on the initial stimulation parameter set.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the best fit determination comprises:

deriving a first set of data points from the programmed stimulation parameter set;

deriving a second set of data points from each of the reference stimulation parameter sets;

computationally comparing the first set of data points with each of the second sets of data points; and

selecting one of the reference parameter sets as the initial stimulation parameter set based on the comparison.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the comparison is computationally performed using a comparison function selected from the group consisting of a correlation coefficient function, a least squares based function, and a cross-correlation function.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein each data point in the first and second sets of data points represents a magnitude of stimulation energy associated with a respective one of the plurality of electrodes.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein each data point in the first and second sets of data points represents a voltage as a neural activation function of the plurality of electrodes.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein only data points associated with a subset of the electrodes are compared.

8. A computer readable medium for programming a controller that controls electrical stimulation energy output to a plurality of electrodes, the controller storing a set of programmed stimulation parameters associated with the plurality of electrodes, the medium containing instructions, which when executed, comprise:

comparing the programmed stimulation parameter set with a plurality of sets of reference stimulation parameters, each of the reference sets of stimulation parameters being associated with the plurality of electrodes;

determining if an identical match between the programmed stimulation parameter set and any one of the reference stimulation parameter sets exists based on the comparison;

selecting an identically matched stimulation parameter set as an initial stimulation parameter set or determining a best fit between the programmed stimulation parameter set and the reference stimulation parameter sets and selecting the best fit stimulation parameter set as the initial stimulation parameter set when an identical match does not exist; and

programming the controller with a new set of programmable stimulation parameters based on the initial stimulation parameter set.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8, further comprising a navigation table for storing the reference stimulation parameter sets as a series of stimulation parameter sets.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the best fit determination comprises prioritizing the electrodes, and narrowing the reference stimulation parameter sets down to a single stimulation parameter set based on the electrode prioritization, wherein the single stimulation parameter set is selected as the initial stimulation parameter set.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the best fit determination comprises:

deriving a first set of data points from the programmed stimulation parameter set;

deriving a second set of data points from each of the reference stimulation parameter sets;

computationally comparing the first set of data points with each of the second sets of data points; and

selecting one of the reference parameter sets as the initial stimulation parameter set based on the comparison.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed, further comprises deriving an effective stimulation parameter set from the initial stimulation parameter set, wherein the effective stimulation parameter set is selected as the new programmable stimulation set.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein deriving the effective stimulation parameter set comprises gradually changing the initial stimulation parameter set to the effective stimulation parameter set while stimulating tissue of a patient in accordance with the gradually changing stimulation parameter set.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the initial stimulation parameter set comprises first electrical current values for the plurality of electrodes, the effective stimulation parameter set comprises second electrical current values for the plurality of electrodes, and the initial stimulation parameter set is gradually changed to the effective stimulation parameter set by gradually shifting the first electrical current values to the second electrical current values.

15. A tissue stimulation system, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes configured for being placed in contact with tissue of a patient;

an implantable device configured for conveying electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes, thereby creating a stimulation region in the tissue;

an external controller configured for controlling the stimulation energy output by the implantable device to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with a set of programmed stimulation parameters; and

a computerized programming system configured for;

comparing the programmed stimulation parameter set with a plurality of sets of reference stimulation parameters, each of the reference sets of stimulation parameters being associated with the plurality of electrodes;

determining if an identical match between the programmed stimulation parameter set and any one of the reference stimulation parameter sets exists based on the comparison;

selecting an identically matched stimulation parameter set as an initial stimulation parameter set or determining a best fit between the programmed stimulation parameter set and the reference stimulation parameter sets and selecting the best fit stimulation parameter set as the initial stimulation parameter set when an identical match does not exist; and

programming the controller with a new set of programmable stimulation parameters based on the initial stimulation parameter set.

16. The tissue stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the computerized programming system comprises a navigation table that stores the reference stimulation parameter sets as a series of stimulation parameter sets.

17. The tissue stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the best fit determination comprises prioritizing the electrodes, and narrowing the reference stimulation parameter sets down to a single stimulation parameter set based on the electrode prioritization, wherein the single stimulation parameter set is selected as the initial stimulation parameter set.

18. The tissue stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the best fit determination comprises:

deriving a first set of data points from the programmed stimulation parameter set;

deriving a second set of data points from each of the reference stimulation parameter sets;

computationally comparing the first set of data points with each of the second sets of data points; and

selecting one of the reference parameter sets as the initial stimulation parameter set based on the comparison.

19. The tissue stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the computerized programming system is further configured for deriving an effective stimulation parameter set from the initial stimulation parameter set, wherein the effective stimulation parameter set is selected as the new programmable stimulation set.

20. The tissue stimulation system of claim 19, wherein deriving the effective stimulation parameter set comprises gradually changing the initial stimulation parameter set to the effective stimulation parameter set while directing the implantable device to stimulate tissue of a patient in accordance with the gradually changing stimulation parameter set.

21. The tissue stimulation system of claim 20, wherein the initial stimulation parameter set comprises first electrical current values for the plurality of electrodes, the effective stimulation parameter set comprises second electrical current values for the plurality of electrodes, and the initial stimulation parameter set is gradually changed to the effective stimulation parameter set by gradually shifting the first electrical current values to the second electrical current values.