Systems and methods for automatically optimizing stimulus parameters and electrode configurations for neuro-stimulators
First Claim
1. A method for optimizing electrical stimulation for an implantable stimulation device used to treat a patient'"'"'s neurological disorder, wherein the stimulation device comprises 1) an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes that is positioned at a target therapy site such that the array is above the skull and below the dura over the target therapy site;
- and
2) a sensing device that is capable of sensing the patient'"'"'s response to the electrical stimulation, the method comprising;
selecting a configuration of electrodes on the electrode array in which a first electrical stimulus is applied to the configuration of electrodes that have been positioned at the therapy site;
selecting an alternate configuration of electrodes on the electrode array in which a second electrical stimulus is applied to the alternate configuration of electrodes that have been positioned at the therapy site, wherein the selecting the alternate configuration of electrodes comprises correlating a plurality of sensed responses based upon sensing the patient'"'"'s response to the applied first or second electrical stimulus using the sensing device with corresponding electrode configurations to determine an electrode configuration/response trend and determining a new electrode configuration that is expected to improve efficacy according to the electrode-configuration/response trend; and
choosing a therapeutic configuration of electrodes corresponding to the sensed patient'"'"'s response that is within a desired range and/or provides an improved response compared to other sensed responses;
wherein the method further comprises (i) applying the electrical stimulation using the chosen therapeutic configuration of electrodes according to a plurality of stimulation frequencies to identify a bracketed range of optimal stimulation frequencies by sensing the patient response to each of the applied stimulation frequencies; and
(ii) choosing a therapeutic stimulation frequency within the bracketed range of optimal stimulation frequencies that provides an improved patient response.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for automatically optimizing the stimulus parameters and/or the configuration of electrodes to provide neural stimulation to a patient, the system includes an electrode array having a support member configured to be implanted into the patient and a plurality of therapy electrodes carried by the support member. The system can also have a pulse system operatively coupled to the therapy electrodes to deliver a stimulus to the therapy electrodes, and a sensing device configured to be attached to a sensing location of the patient. The sensing device generates response signals in response to the stimulus. The system can also include a controller that generates command signals that define the stimulus delivered by the pulse system, evaluates the response signals from the sensing device, and determines a desired configuration for the therapy electrodes and/or a desired stimulus to be delivered to the therapy electrodes.
350 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method for optimizing electrical stimulation for an implantable stimulation device used to treat a patient'"'"'s neurological disorder, wherein the stimulation device comprises 1) an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes that is positioned at a target therapy site such that the array is above the skull and below the dura over the target therapy site;
- and
2) a sensing device that is capable of sensing the patient'"'"'s response to the electrical stimulation, the method comprising;selecting a configuration of electrodes on the electrode array in which a first electrical stimulus is applied to the configuration of electrodes that have been positioned at the therapy site; selecting an alternate configuration of electrodes on the electrode array in which a second electrical stimulus is applied to the alternate configuration of electrodes that have been positioned at the therapy site, wherein the selecting the alternate configuration of electrodes comprises correlating a plurality of sensed responses based upon sensing the patient'"'"'s response to the applied first or second electrical stimulus using the sensing device with corresponding electrode configurations to determine an electrode configuration/response trend and determining a new electrode configuration that is expected to improve efficacy according to the electrode-configuration/response trend; and choosing a therapeutic configuration of electrodes corresponding to the sensed patient'"'"'s response that is within a desired range and/or provides an improved response compared to other sensed responses; wherein the method further comprises (i) applying the electrical stimulation using the chosen therapeutic configuration of electrodes according to a plurality of stimulation frequencies to identify a bracketed range of optimal stimulation frequencies by sensing the patient response to each of the applied stimulation frequencies; and
(ii) choosing a therapeutic stimulation frequency within the bracketed range of optimal stimulation frequencies that provides an improved patient response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- and
-
7. A method for optimizing therapeutic stimulation parameters for a patient suffering from pain or depression using therapy electrodes that have been positioned at a target therapy site within the central nervous system, the method comprising:
-
applying an electrical stimulus at a sub-threshold current intensity level relative to a threshold level for neurons at the target therapy site; sensing a response to the electrical stimulus at a sensing device that has been positioned at a sense location of the patient; selecting an alternate stimulus parameter while maintaining a constant electrode configuration, wherein the alternate stimulus parameter comprises decreasing the sub-threshold current intensity to a lower level; applying the alternate stimulus parameter; correlating a change in a sensed response to determine a stimulus/response relationship that is expected to improve efficacy according to the stimulus/response relationship; repeating the applying, sensing, selecting and correlating procedures using the alternate stimulus parameter; and choosing the electrical stimulus corresponding to the sensed response that is within a desired range and/or provides a better result compared to other sensed responses. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification