Library for management of neurostimulation therapy programs

• US 7,548,786 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vinup, Daniel K., Goetz, Steven M., Lee, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, YUN HAENG NMN
• Application Number:
  US10/406,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/30, 607/45, 607/46, 607/48, 607/49, 607/59
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

An implantable medical device delivers neurostimulation therapy to a patient according to a parameter set. A parameter set may consist of a number of programs that are delivered substantially simultaneously. When programming the implantable medical device for the patient, a clinician programmer may maintain a session log for the patient that includes a listing of programs delivered to the patient and rating information provided by a clinician and the patient for programs of the list. The listing may be ordered according to the rating information in order to facilitate the selection of programs for a parameter set. A program library that may include particularly effective programs organized according to a directory structure may be stored in a memory. One or both of the implantable medical device and a patient programmer may store usage information that provides an objective assessment of therapy use by the patient, and allows a clinician to later improve the therapy based on the usage information.

Claims

1. A method comprising storing neurostimulation therapy programs as a program library within a memory according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the neurostimulation therapy programs,

wherein a first hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a first level of a hierarchy includes at least one of device types, lead types and lead configurations, and

wherein a second hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a second level of the hierarchy includes at least one of patient types, symptoms and body regions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein storing neurostimulation therapy programs according to a set of hierarchical categories comprises storing the programs according to a directory structure that is structured according to the hierarchical categories.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface to allow a user to navigate the program library according to the hierarchical categories in order to store a program within the memory.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface to allow a user to navigate the program library according to the hierarchical categories in order to locate a program stored within the memory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the programs include neurostimulation therapy parameters.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the parameters include at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, selected electrodes, and polarities of selected electrodes.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving comments relating to a program from a user; and

storing the comments with the program in the memory.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving rating information relating to a program from a user; and

storing the rating information with the program in the memory.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving usage information relating to a program from a programmer associated with a patient; and

storing the usage information with the program in the memory.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the programs from at least one of a removable medium, a computer via a computer network, the computer via a local wireless connection, the computer via a wired connection, a programmer via a local wireless connection, and the programmer via a wired connection.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a memory associated with a programmer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is a removable medium.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is associated with a computer and is accessible via at least one of a computer network, a local wireless connection with the computer, and a wired connection with the computer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is a non-volatile medium.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a third hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a third level of a hierarchy includes at least one of physician names and patient names.

16. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to store neurostimulation therapy programs as a program library within a memory according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the neurostimulation therapy programs,

wherein a first hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a first level of a hierarchy includes at least one of device types, lead types and lead configurations, and

wherein a second hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a second level of the hierarchy includes at least one of patient types, symptoms and body regions.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions cause a processor to store the programs within the memory according to a directory structure that is structured according to the hierarchical categories.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to provide a user interface to allow a user to navigate the program library according to the hierarchical categories in order to store a program within the memory.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to provide a user interface to allow a user to navigate the program library according to the hierarchical categories in order to locate a program stored within the memory.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive comments relating to a program from a user; and

store the comments with the program in the memory.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive rating information relating to a program from a user; and

store the rating information with the program in the memory.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive usage information relating to a program from a programmer associated with a patient; and

store the usage information with the program in the memory.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to receive the programs from at least one of a removable medium, a computer via a computer network, the computer via a local wireless connection, the computer via a wired connection, a programmer via a local wireless connection, and the programmer via a wired connection.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the memory comprises a medium associated with a programmer.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the memory is a removable medium.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the memory is associated with a computer and is accessible via at least one of a computer network, a local wireless connection with the computer, and a wired connection with the computer.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the memory is a non-volatile medium.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein a third hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a third level of a hierarchy includes at least one of physician names and patient names.

29. A computer-readable medium comprising neurostimulation therapy programs stored as a program library according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the neurostimulation therapy programs,

wherein a first hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a first level of a hierarchy includes at least one of device types, lead types and lead configurations, and

wherein a second hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a second level of the hierarchy includes at least one of patient types, symptoms and body regions.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein the programs are stored according to a directory structure that is structured according to the hierarchical categories.

31. The medium of claim 29, wherein the programs include neurostimulation therapy parameters.

32. The medium of claim 31, wherein the parameters include at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, selected electrodes, and polarities of selected electrodes.

33. The medium of claim 29, further comprising user comments relating to a program.

34. The medium of claim 29, further comprising rating information relating to a program.

35. The medium of claim 29, further comprising usage information relating to a program.

36. The medium of claim 29, wherein the medium is associated with a programmer.

37. The medium of claim 29, wherein the medium is a removable medium.

38. The medium of claim 29, wherein the medium is associated with a computer and is accessible via at least one of a computer network, a local wireless connection with the computer, and a wired connection with the computer.

39. The medium of claim 29, wherein the medium is a non-volatile medium.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein a third hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a third level of a hierarchy includes at least one of physician names and patient names.

41. A system comprising:

a memory to store neurostimulation therapy programs as a program library according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the neurostimulation therapy programs; and

a programmer to allow a user to access the program library,

wherein a first hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a first level of a hierarchy includes at least one of device types, lead types and lead configurations, and

wherein a second hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a second level of the hierarchy includes at least one of patient types, symptoms and body regions.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the programs are stored according to a directory structure that is structured according to the hierarchical categories, and the programmer allows the user to navigate the directory structure.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the programmer allows a user to navigate the directory structure in order to store a program within the memory.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein the programmer allows a user to navigate the directory structure in order to locate a program stored within the memory.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the programs include neurostimulation therapy parameters.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the parameters include at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, selected electrodes, and polarities of selected electrodes.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the programmer receives comments relating to a program from a user, and stores the comments with the program in the memory.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the programmer receives rating information relating to a program from a user, and stores the rating information with the program in the memory.

49. The system of claim 41, wherein the programmer receives usage information relating to-a program from another programming device associated with a patient, and stores the usage information with the program in the memory.

50. The system of claim 41, wherein the programmer receives the programs from at least one of a removable medium, a computer via a computer network, the computer via a local wireless connection, the computer via a wired connection, another programmer via a local wireless connection, and the other programmer via a wired connection, and stores the programs within the memory.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the memory is integral with the programmer.

52. The system of claim 41, wherein the memory is a removable medium for the programmer.

53. The system of claim 41, wherein the memory is associated with a computer and is accessed by the programmer via at least one of a computer network, a local wireless connection with the computer, and a wired connection with the computer.

54. The system of claim 41, wherein the memory is a non-volatile medium.

55. The system of claim 41, wherein the user is a clinician.

56. The system of claim 41, wherein a third hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a third level of a hierarchy includes at least one of physician names and patient names.

57. A system comprising:

a memory that stores neurostimulation therapy programs within a program library,

wherein the program library comprises a directory structure that organizes the neurostimulation therapy programs according to a set of hierarchical categories,

wherein a first hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a first level of a hierarchy includes at least one of device types, lead types and lead configurations, and

wherein a second hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a second level of the hierarchy includes at least one of patient types, symptoms and body regions,

wherein each of the neurostimulation therapy programs each include one or more neurostimulation therapy parameters including at least one of pulse amplitudes, pulse widths, pulse rates, selected electrodes, or polarities of selected electrodes; and

a programmer that allows a user to access the program library and navigate the directory structure to store programs within and retrieve programs from the directory structure.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the programmer receives usage information relating to the neurostimulation therapy programs from another programming device associated with a patient, and stores the usage information with the neurostimulation therapy programs within the program library.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the memory is associated with a computer and is accessed by the programmer via at least one of a computer network, a local wireless connection with the computer, or a wired connection with the computer.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein a third hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a third level of a hierarchy includes at least one of physician names and patient names.

61. A system comprising:

a memory to store neurostimulation therapy programs as a program library according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the neurostimulation therapy programs; and

a programmer to allow a user to access the program library,

wherein a first hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a first level of a hierarchy includes at least one of device types, lead types and lead configurations, and

wherein a second hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a second level of the hierarchy includes at least one of patient types, symptoms and body regions.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the programmer receives rating information relating to a program from a user, and stores the rating information with the program in the memory.

63. The system of claim 61 wherein the programmer receives usage information relating to a program from another programming device associated with a patient, and stores the usage information with the program in the memory.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein the programs include neurostimulation therapy parameters.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein a third hierarchical category of the set of hierarchical categories at a third level of a hierarchy includes at least one of physician names and patient names.