Brain stimulation programming

• US 8,364,272 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Niketa
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVICKY, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US12/771,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20110270348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 607/30, 607/45, 607/46, 607/59, 607/62, 128/920, 128/922, 128/923
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

A programming system allows a user to program therapy parameter values for therapy delivered by a medical device by specifying a desired therapeutic outcome. In an example, the programming system presents a model of a brain network associated with a patient condition to the user. The model may be a graphical representation of a network of anatomical structures of the brain associated with the patient condition and may indicate the functional relationship between the anatomical structures. Using the model, the user may define a desired therapeutic outcome associated with the condition, and adjust excitatory and/or inhibitory effects of the stimulation on the anatomical structures. The system may determine therapy parameter values for therapy delivered to the patient based on the user input.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying, on a user interface of a computing device, a graphical representation of a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient, wherein the graphical representation of the network includes graphical links indicating functional relationships between the anatomical structures;

receiving user input via the user interface specifying at least one effect of therapy delivered by an implantable medical device to at least one of the anatomical structures of the patient; and

determining, with a processor, one or more therapy parameter values with which the implantable medical device generates therapy based on the user input and the functional relationships between the anatomical structures.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more therapy parameter values comprises:

determining a relationship between one or more therapy parameters and at least one of the anatomical structures; and

determining the one or more therapy parameter values based on the relationship between the one or more therapy parameters and the anatomical structures.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more therapy parameter values comprises determining one or more therapy parameter values associated with the at least one effect of therapy in a memory of a device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the therapy to the at least one of the anatomical structures;

sensing a physiological parameter of the patient;

determining whether the physiological parameter indicates the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input; and

adjusting the one or more therapy parameter values if the physiological parameter does not indicate the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one effect indicates at least one of an excitatory effect or an inhibitory effect on at least one of the anatomical structures.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one effect indicates at least one of a synchronization or desynchronization between at least two of the anatomical structures.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying one or more outcomes associated with a patient condition, wherein the at least one effect indicates a desired change to the one or more outcomes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the one or more outcomes includes at least one of at least one beneficial therapeutic effect and at least one stimulation-induced side effect.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device includes an electrical stimulator, and the therapy parameter values define the electrical stimulation delivered by the electrical stimulator to at least one of the anatomical structures.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying, on the user interface, one or more patient conditions;

receiving user input, via the user interface, selecting a patient condition from the one or more patient conditions; and

selecting the graphical representation of the network of interconnected anatomical structures based on the selected patient condition.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the one or more determined therapy parameter values to the implantable medical device.

12. A system comprising:

a user interface that displays a graphical representation of a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient, wherein the graphical representation of the network includes graphical links indicating functional relationships between the anatomical structures, wherein the user interface is configured to receive user input specifying at least one effect of therapy delivered by an implantable medical device to at least one of the anatomical structures of the patient; and

a processor that determines one or more therapy parameter values with which the implantable medical device generates therapy based on the user input and the functional relationships between the anatomical structures.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein to determine the one or more therapy parameter values, the processor:

determines a relationship between one or more therapy parameters and at least one of the anatomical structures; and

determines the one or more therapy parameter values based on the relationship between the one or more therapy parameters and the anatomical structures.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein to determine the one or more therapy parameter values, the processor determines one or more therapy parameter values associated with the at least one effect of therapy in a memory of a device.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a stimulation generator configured to deliver the therapy to the at least one of the anatomical structures; and

a sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of the patient,

wherein the processor determines whether the physiological parameter indicates the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input,

wherein the processor adjusts the one or more therapy parameter values if the physiological parameter does not indicate the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the user interface displays one or more outcomes associated with a patient condition, wherein the at least one effect indicates a desired change to the one or more outcomes.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more outcomes includes at least one of at least one beneficial therapeutic effect and at least one stimulation-induced side effect.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the user interface:

displays, on the user interface, one or more patient conditions;

receives user input, via the user interface, selecting a patient condition from the one or more patient conditions; and

selects the graphical representation of the network of interconnected anatomical structures based on the selected patient condition.

19. The system of claim 12, further comprising a telemetry device that is configured to transmit the one or more determined therapy parameter values to the implantable medical device.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising a programmer for the implantable medical device, wherein the programmer comprises the user interface and the processor.

21. A system comprising:

means for displaying a graphical representation of a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient, wherein the graphical representation of the network includes graphical links indicating functional relationships between the anatomical structures;

means for receiving user input specifying at least one effect of therapy delivered by an implantable medical device to at least one of the anatomical structures of the patient; and

means for determining one or more therapy parameter values with which the implantable medical device generates therapy based on the user input and the functional relationships between the anatomical structures.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for determining the one or more therapy parameter values comprises:

means for determining a relationship between one or more therapy parameters and at least one of the anatomical structures; and

means for determining the one or more therapy parameter values based on the relationship between the one or more therapy parameters and the anatomical structures.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the means for determining the one or more therapy parameter values comprises means for determining one or more therapy parameter values associated with the at least one effect of therapy in a memory of a device.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for delivering the therapy to the at least one of the anatomical structures;

means for sensing a physiological parameter of the patient;

means for determining whether the physiological parameter indicates the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input; and

means for adjusting the one or more therapy parameter values if the physiological parameter does not indicate the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for displaying an indication of a function of the at least one of the structures in response to the user input.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for displaying one or more outcomes associated with a patient condition, wherein the at least one effect indicates a desired change to the one or more outcomes.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for displaying one or more patient conditions;

means for receiving user input selecting a patient condition from the one or more patient conditions; and

means for selecting the graphical representation of the network of interconnected anatomical structures based on the selected patient condition.

28. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause a processor to:

display, on a user interface of a computing device, a graphical representation of a model of a network of interconnected anatomical structures of a patient, wherein the graphical representation of the network includes graphical links indicating functional relationships between the anatomical structures;

receive user input via the user interface specifying at least one effect of therapy delivered by an implantable medical device to at least one of the anatomical structures of the patient; and

determine one or more therapy parameter values with which the implantable medical device generates therapy based on the user input and the functional relationships between the anatomical structures.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions to determine the one or more therapy parameter values comprise instructions to:

determine a relationship between one or more therapy parameters and at least one of the anatomical structures; and

determine the one or more therapy parameter values based on the relationship between the one or more therapy parameters and the anatomical structures.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the instructions to determine the one or more parameter values comprises instructions to determine a therapy parameter value associated with the at least one effect of therapy in a memory of a device.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions to:

deliver the therapy to the at least one of the anatomical structures;

sense a physiological parameter of the patient;

determine whether the physiological parameter indicates the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input; and

adjust the one or more therapy parameter values if the physiological parameter does not indicate the at least one effect of therapy specified by the user input.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instruction to display, via the user interface, an indication of a function of the at least one of the structures in response to the user input.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions to display one or more outcomes associated with a patient condition, wherein the at least one effect indicates a desired change to the one or more outcomes.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions to:

display, on the user interface, one or more patient conditions;

receive user input, via the user interface, selecting a patient condition from the one or more patient conditions; and

select the graphical representation of the network of interconnected anatomical structures based on the selected patient condition.