Amplitude ramping of waveforms generated by an implantable medical device

• US 7,526,341 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Hartmann, James M., Barnhorst, Jordan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, TONG E
• Application Number:
  US10/099,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,601 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 2, 607 30- 32, 607 39- 43, 607/46, 607 59- 60, 607/28
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3615 Intensity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data

Abstract

The present invention automates the adjustment of an amplitude of stimulated pulses that are generated by an implanted device. Apparatus comprises a processor that communicates with the implanted device over a communications channel through a communications module. The apparatus enables the clinician to select a pair of electrodes that is contained on a lead of the implanted device. Corresponding to each iteration of the process, the processor sends a command to the implanted device in order to increment the amplitude of the stimulation pulse between the selected electrodes. Each iteration of the process corresponds to the apparatus incrementing the current value by a predetermined incremental value that can be selected by the clinician. When the current value of the amplitude equals the target value, the process is halted. Additionally, the clinician can halt process during the execution of the process by instructing the apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting a specified parameter associated with a stimulation pulse, the stimulation pulse generated by an implanted medical device, the method comprising:

receiving user input that sets an incremental value of the specified parameter via a user interface of an external device that communicates with the implanted medical device;

receiving user input that sets a target value of the specified parameter via the user interface of the external device;

in response to the user input that sets the target value, automatically increasing a current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value a plurality of times, wherein automatically increasing a current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value a plurality of times comprises automatically sending a plurality of commands from an external programmer to the implantable medical device, each of the commands increasing the current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value;

receiving a request to terminate the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter; and

terminating the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter, wherein a final value of the specified parameter equals the current value of the specified parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the specified parameter characterizes an amplitude of the stimulation pulse between a pair of electrodes that is associated with the implanted device.

3. A method for adjusting a specified parameter associated with a stimulation pulse, the stimulation pulse generated by an implanted medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) initializing a current value of the specified parameter associated with the stimulation pulse;

(b) determining an incremental value of the specified parameter;

(c) automatically increasing the current value of the specified parameter in response to step (b); and

(d) setting the current value of the specified parameter to a final value, wherein the step of setting comprises the steps of;

(i) receiving a request to skip to a target value; and

(ii) setting the current value to the target value.

4. A method for adjusting a specified parameter associated with a stimulation pulse, the stimulation pulse generated by an implanted medical device, the method comprising:

receiving user input that sets a target value of the specified parameter via a user interface of an external device that communicates with the implanted medical device;

in response to the user input that sets the target value, automatically increasing a current value of the specified parameter by a predetermined incremental value a plurality of times based on a comparison of the current value to the target value;

during the automatic increasing of the current value and prior to the current value reaching the target value, receiving a request to halt the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter;

halting the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter in response to the request; and

identifying the current value of the specified parameter when the automatic increasing is halted as a final value.

5. A method for adjusting an amplitude associated with a stimulation pulse, the stimulation pulse generated by an implanted medical device, the method comprising:

receiving user input that sets a target value of the amplitude via a user interface of an external device that communicates with the implanted medical device;

in response to the user input that sets the target value, automatically increasing a current value of the amplitude by a predetermined incremental value a plurality of times based on a comparison of the current value to the target value;

during the automatic increasing, determining whether to modify a value of another parameter associated with the stimulation pulse based on a next value of the amplitude that is the current value increased by the predetermined incremental value; and

modifying the other parameter based on the determination.

6. Apparatus for adjusting a specified parameter of a stimulation pulse between a pair of electrodes that is associated with an implanted device, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface;

a communications module; and

a processor that communicates with the implanted device through the communications module, the processor configured to;

receive user input that sets a target value of the specified parameter via the user interface;

in response to the user input that sets the target value, automatically increment a current value of the specified parameter by a predetermined incremental value a plurality of times based on a comparison of the current value to the target value;

during the automatic incrementing of the current value and prior to the current value reaching the target value, receive a request to halt the automatic incrementing of the current value of the specified parameter;

halt the automatic incrementing of the current value of the specified parameter in response to the request; and

identify the current value of the specified parameter when the automatic incrementing is halted as a final value.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to accept oral instructions.

8. External apparatus for adjusting a specified parameter of a stimulation pulse between electrodes that are associated with an implanted medical device, the apparatus comprising:

a user interface;

a communications module; and

a processor that communicates with the implanted device through the communications module, the processor configured to;

receive user input that sets an incremental value of the specified parameter via the user interface;

receive user input that sets a target value of the specified parameter via the user interface;

in response to the user input that sets the target value, automatically send a plurality of commands to the implantable medical device, each of the commands increasing the current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value, in order to automatically increase the current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value a plurality of times;

receive a request to terminate the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter; and

terminate the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter, wherein a final value of the specified parameter equals the current value of the specified parameter.

9. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling an external computer system to adjust a specified parameter of a stimulation pulse between electrodes that are associated with an implanted device by:

receiving user input that sets an incremental value of the specified parameter via a user interface of an external device that communicates with the implanted medical device;

receiving user input that sets a target value of the specified parameter via the user interface of the external device;

in response to the user input that sets the target value, automatically increasing a current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value a plurality of times, wherein automatically increasing a current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value a plurality of times comprises automatically sending a plurality of commands to the implantable medical device, each of the commands increasing the current value of the specified parameter by the incremental value;

receiving a request to terminate the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter; and

terminating the automatic increasing of the current value of the specified parameter, wherein a final value of the specified parameter equals the current value of the specified parameter.