Method for optimizing search for spinal cord stimulation parameter setting

• US 7,991,482 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bradley, Kerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Heller; Tammie K
• Application Number:
  US11/937,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20080071325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/48, 607 55- 57, 607/117, 607/118, 607/67, 128/907
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

A method of stimulating tissue of a patient is provided. The method comprises placing an array of electrodes in proximity to the tissue, conveying electrical current between the electrodes of the array to stimulate a tissue site, incrementally shifting the electrical current from at least one cathode to at least another cathode over a first range of fractionalized current values, and incrementally shifting the electrical current from at least one anode to at least another anode over a second range of fractionalized current values. The step sizes for the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values differ.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating tissue of a patient, comprising:

placing an array of electrodes in proximity to the tissue;

conveying electrical current between the electrodes of the array to stimulate a tissue site;

incrementally shifting the electrical current from at least one cathode to at least another cathode over a first range of fractionalized current values; and

incrementally shifting the electrical current from at least one anode to at least another anode over a second range of fractionalized current values;

wherein the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values respectively have differing first and second average step sizes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one cathode is adjacent the tissue site, and the first average step size is smaller than the second average step size.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one anode is adjacent the tissue site, and the first average step size is greater than the second average step size.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values has a uniform step size.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values has a non-uniform step size.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step size at a middle of the at least one of the first and second ranges is smaller than the step size at both ends of the at least one of the first and second ranges.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the endpoints of each of the first and second ranges of fractionalized current ranges respectively has a 100%/0% fractionalized current value and a 0%/100% fractionalized current value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one cathode is a single cathode, the at least other cathode is a single cathode, the at least one anode is a single anode, and the at least other anode is a single anode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a steering table containing rows respectively containing different stimulation parameter sets, wherein the electrical current is incrementally shifted from the at least one cathode to the at least other cathode, and the electrical current is incrementally shifted from the at least one anode to the at least another anode, by stepping through the rows of the steering table.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a maximum comfortable step size;

determining a minimum programmable step size;

selecting step sizes for the first range of fractionalized current values; and

selecting step sizes for the second range of fractionalized current values;

wherein the step sizes for the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values are all between the minimum programmable step size and the maximum comfortable step size.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing sets of trial stimulation parameters; and

selecting one of the trial stimulation parameter sets based on a therapeutic effect of the tissue site as the electrical current is shifted between the electrodes of the array.

12. A method of stimulating tissue of a patient, comprising:

placing an array of electrodes in contact with the tissue;

conveying electrical current between the electrodes of the array to stimulate a tissue site;

incrementally shifting the electrical current from at least one cathode to at least another cathode over a first range of fractionalized current values; and

incrementally shifting the electrical current from at least one anode to at least another anode over a second range of fractionalized current values;

wherein the endpoints of each of the first and second ranges respectively has a 100%/0% fractionalized current value and a 0%/100% fractionalized current value, the first range comprises a first total number of fractionalized current values, and the second range comprises a second total number of fractionalized current values different from the first total number of fractionalized current values.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one cathode is adjacent the tissue site, and the first total number of fractionalized current values is greater than the second total number of fractionalized current values.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one anode is adjacent the tissue site, and the first total number of fractionalized current values is less than the second total number of fractionalized current values.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values has a uniform step size.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values has a non-uniform step size.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step size at a middle of the at least one of the first and second ranges is smaller than the step size at both ends of the at least one of the first and second ranges.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one cathode is a single cathode, the at least other cathode is a single cathode, the at least one anode is a single anode, and the at least other anode is a single anode.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising accessing a steering table containing rows respectively containing different stimulation parameter sets, wherein the electrical current is incrementally shifted from the at least one cathode to the at least other cathode, and the electrical current is incrementally shifted from the at least one anode to the at least another anode, by stepping through the rows of the steering table.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining a maximum comfortable step size;

determining a minimum programmable step size;

selecting step sizes for the first range of fractionalized current values; and

selecting step sizes for the second range of fractionalized current values;

wherein the step sizes for the first and second ranges of fractionalized current values are all between the minimum programmable step size and the maximum comfortable step size.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

providing sets of trial stimulation parameters; and

selecting one of the trial stimulation parameter sets based on a therapeutic effect of the tissue site as the electrical current is shifted between the electrodes of the array.