Programming techniques for peripheral nerve field stimulation

• US 8,855,777 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2009
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: King, Gary W., Goetz, Steven M., Houchins, Andrew H., Keacher, Jeffrey T., Greenberg, Jordan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US12/359,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,080 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/46, 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36182 Direction of the electrical field, e.g. with sleeve around stimulating electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• 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

Abstract

A therapy program for peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) may be selected based on user input indicating a desired therapeutic effect for a user-specified region in which a patient feels pain. In other examples, PNFS may be programmed based on input from a user selecting at least one region from among a plurality of regions in which the patient experiences pain. In addition, the PNFS may be programmed based on user input defining an aspect of PNFS for the selected region, such as a relative intensity of PNFS delivered to at least two selected regions, a balance of PNFS between at least two regions, a desired shift in PNFS from a first region to a second region, or an extent to which a first stimulation field within a first region overlaps with a second stimulation field in a second region.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a region selection input via a user interface, wherein the region selection input indicates at least one region from a plurality of regions of a body of a patient in which the patient experiences pain;

receiving a therapy input via the user interface, wherein the therapy input defines an aspect of peripheral nerve field stimulation to be delivered to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input via electrodes implanted in the at least one region indicated by the region selection input; and

determining, with a processor, a therapy program for providing the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input based on the therapy input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the therapy program to a medical device that delivers the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the patient according to the therapy program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the region selection input comprises receiving the region selection input indicating at least two regions from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input indicates a relative intensity of peripheral nerve field stimulation between the at least two regions.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the region selection input comprises receiving the region selection input indicating at least two regions from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input indicates a balance of peripheral nerve field stimulation between the at least two regions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the region selection input comprises receiving the region selection input indicating a first region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain and a second region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input comprises information indicating a shift of peripheral nerve field stimulation from the first region to the second region.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising controlling a medical device to deliver the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the first region and shift the delivery of the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the second region in response to the therapy input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the region selection input comprises receiving input indicating a first region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain and a second region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein receiving the therapy input comprises receiving information indicating an extent of overlap between a first stimulation field generated by delivering peripheral nerve field stimulation to the first region and a second stimulation field generated by delivering peripheral nerve field stimulation to the second region.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first region and the second region are adjacent to each other.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the therapy input comprises receiving input indicating a desired therapeutic effect.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving input indicating a desired therapeutic effect comprises receiving input selecting at least one of a muscle activation effect, a production of endorphins effect or a paresthesia effect.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein determining a therapy program comprises determining a stimulation frequency range for the patient that produces the desired therapeutic effect.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving input indicating a desired therapeutic effect comprises receiving input selecting a stimulation frequency range.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the stimulation frequency range is selected from at least a first range of about less than about 10 Hertz, a second range of about 10 Hertz to about 30 Hertz, and a third range of greater than about 30 Hertz.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a stimulation vector input indicating a direction of the peripheral nerve field stimulation, and wherein determining the therapy program comprises determining the therapy program based on the therapy input and the stimulation vector input.

15. A system comprising:

a user interface; and

a processor that receives a region selection input from a user via the user interface, wherein the region selection input indicates at least one region from a plurality of regions of a body of a patient in which the patient experiences pain, receives a therapy input from the user via the user interface defining an aspect of peripheral nerve field stimulation to be delivered to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input via electrodes implanted in the at least one region indicated by the region selection input, and determines a therapy program for providing the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input based on the therapy input.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a programmer, wherein the programmer comprises the user interface and the processor.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a medical device that delivers the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the patient, wherein the programmer further comprises a telemetry module that transmits the therapy program to the medical device.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a programmer and a medical device that delivers the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the patient, wherein the programmer comprises the user interface and the implantable medical device comprises the processor.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the region selection input indicates at least two regions from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input comprises a relative intensity of peripheral nerve field stimulation between the at least two regions.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the region selection input indicates at least two regions from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input comprises a balance of peripheral nerve field stimulation between the at least two regions indicated by the region selection input.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the region selection input indicates a first region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain and a second region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input comprises information indicating a shift of peripheral nerve field stimulation from the first region to the second region.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the region selection input indicates a first region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain and a second region from the plurality of regions of the body of the patient in which the patient experiences pain, and wherein the therapy input comprises information indicating an extent of overlap between a first stimulation field generated by delivering peripheral nerve field stimulation to the first region and a second stimulation field generated by delivering peripheral nerve field stimulation to the second region.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the therapy input comprises information indicating a desired therapeutic effect.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the desired therapeutic effect comprises at least one of a muscle activation effect, a production of endorphins effect or a paresthesia effect.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the information indicating the desired therapeutic input comprises information selecting a stimulation frequency range.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the stimulation frequency range is selected from at least a first range of about less than about 10 Hertz, a second range of about 10 Hertz to about 30 Hertz, and a third range of greater than about 30 Hertz.

27. A system comprising:

means for receiving a region selection input indicating at least one region from a plurality of regions of a body of a patient in which the patient experiences pain;

means for receiving a therapy input defining an aspect of peripheral nerve field stimulation to be delivered to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input via electrodes implanted in the at least one region indicated by the region selection input; and

means for determining a therapy program for providing the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input based on the therapy input.

28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a region selection input via a user interface, wherein the region selection input indicates at least one region from a plurality of regions of a body of a patient in which the patient experiences pain;

receive a therapy input via the user interface, wherein the therapy input defines an aspect of peripheral nerve field stimulation to be delivered to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input via electrodes implanted in the at least one region indicated by the region selection input; and

determine a therapy program for providing the peripheral nerve field stimulation to the at least one region indicated by the region selection input based on the therapy input.