System and method for programming an implantable pulse generator

• US 8,180,451 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2010
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hickman, Thomas K., Engstrom, Erik D., Brock, Matthew J., Erickson, John H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Natasha
• Application Number:
  US12/814,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 607/7, 607/11, 607/27
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36192 Amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37241 providing test stimulations
• 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: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of programming an IPG comprises providing one or several GUI screens on the programmer device, the GUI screens comprising a master amplitude GUI control for controlling amplitudes for stimsets of a stimulation program and one or several balancing GUI controls for controlling amplitudes of each stimset of the stimulation program; communicating one or several commands from the programmer device to the IPG to change the amplitude of all stimsets of the stimulation program in response to manipulation of the master amplitude GUI control, wherein the amplitude of each stimulation set is automatically calculated by a level selected through the master amplitude GUI control and one or several calibration parameters for the respective stimulation set; and automatically recalculating the one or several calibration parameters for a respective stimulation set in response to manipulation of one of the balancing GUI controls and storing the recalculated calibration parameters.

Claims

1. A system for providing electrical pulses to tissue of a patient to treat a neurological condition, comprising:

an implantable pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, wherein the implantable pulse generator is adapted to generate electrical pulses according to a multi-stimulation set program with each stimulation set of the program containing a respective set of pulse parameters and an electrode configuration;

a programming device for programming the implantable pulse generator, wherein the programming device is adapted to conduct wireless communications with the implantable pulse generator after implant in the patient, wherein the programming device comprises;

(A) a processor for controlling the programming device;

(B) a display screen for providing a display to a user of the programming device; and

(C) memory for storing data and software code, wherein the memory stores;

(1) code for communicating data to cause the implantable pulse generator to generate electrical pulses according to the multi-stimulation set program;

(2) code for providing one or more graphical user interface (GUI) screens on the programming device, the one or more GUI screens comprising (a) a master amplitude GUI control for controlling amplitudes for multiple stimulation sets of the multi-stimulation set program and (b) one or more balancing GUI controls for controlling amplitudes of each individual stimulation set of the multi-stimulation set program;

(3) code for automatically recalculating multiple calibration parameters for a respective stimulation set in response to manipulation of one of the balancing GUI controls by the user, a first calibration parameter being recalculated directly from a level of the balancing GUI and a second calibration parameter being recalculated as a function of the recalculated first calibration parameter; and

(4) code for communicating the recalculated calibration parameters to the implantable pulse generator to affect a change in amplitude for the respective stimulation sets during execution of the multi-stimulation set program by the implantable pulse generator.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more GUI screens comprise at least one GUI control for automatically ramping a master amplitude level for the multi-stimulation set program to a predetermined amplitude level.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulse parameters for each stimulation set comprise a perception threshold parameter, a comfort level parameter, and a maximum tolerable parameter for each stimulation set.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the maximum tolerable parameter is automatically calculated as a function of the perception threshold parameter and the comfort level parameter.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the memory stores code for providing one or more GUI controls for controlling which stimulation sets in the multi-stimulation set program are designated as activate during a test process.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the memory further stores code for communicating, in real-time as the program is executed by the implantable pulse generator, one or more commands to the implantable pulse generator containing data identifying active or inactive stimulation sets for the program to control which stimulation sets are used to generate pulses by the implantable pulse generator during execution of the multi-stimulation set program.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the one or more balancing GUIs display distinct controls for the respective stimulation sets of the multi-stimulation set program along with displays of distinct regions of the patient'"'"'s body.