Programming interface for spinal cord neuromodulation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for assisting planning or performing of neuromodulation in a patient, comprising:
- storing, by a computer processor, a mapping of each of a plurality of anatomical neuromodulation candidate regions to respective stimulation effect regions that are different than the plurality of anatomical neuromodulation candidate regions;
receiving, by the processor, input by which one of the stimulation effect regions is selected;
responsive to the input, determining, by the processor, one or more electrode neuromodulation settings estimated by the processor to produce a volume of tissue activation that at least partially encompasses a target anatomical neuromodulation candidate region, of the plurality of anatomical candidate regions, which is mapped in the stored mapping to the selected one of the plurality of stimulation effect regions; and
outputting, by the processor, at least one of the one or more electrode neuromodulation settings and a display of the estimated volume of tissue activation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tool for assisting in the planning or performing of electrical neuromodulation of a patient'"'"'s spinal cord. The tool may have various functions and capabilities, including calculating a volume of activation, registering an electrode(s) shown in a radiologic image, constructing functional images of the patient'"'"'s spinal anatomy, targeting of neuromodulation, finding a functional midline between multiple electrodes, determining the three-dimensional position of multiple electrodes, and/or accommodating for electrode migration. In certain embodiments, the tool can be embodied as computer software or a computer system.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for assisting planning or performing of neuromodulation in a patient, comprising:
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storing, by a computer processor, a mapping of each of a plurality of anatomical neuromodulation candidate regions to respective stimulation effect regions that are different than the plurality of anatomical neuromodulation candidate regions; receiving, by the processor, input by which one of the stimulation effect regions is selected; responsive to the input, determining, by the processor, one or more electrode neuromodulation settings estimated by the processor to produce a volume of tissue activation that at least partially encompasses a target anatomical neuromodulation candidate region, of the plurality of anatomical candidate regions, which is mapped in the stored mapping to the selected one of the plurality of stimulation effect regions; and outputting, by the processor, at least one of the one or more electrode neuromodulation settings and a display of the estimated volume of tissue activation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer system comprising:
a computer processor that is programmed to perform steps that comprise; providing a functional image of the patient'"'"'s anatomy, wherein the functional image of the anatomy includes an electrode and information defining functional regions of the anatomy according to one or more neurologic functions; determining the position of the electrode relative to the functional regions; based on the one or more neurologic functions, selecting one of the defined functional regions as a target functional region of the anatomy; providing an electric field model of the electrode based on its determined relative position; and determining, based on the electric field model, one or more electrode neuromodulation settings that produces a volume of activation that is estimated to at least partially encompass the targeted functional region of the anatomy. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
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providing a functional image of the patient'"'"'s anatomy, wherein the functional image of the anatomy includes one or more electrodes and information defining functional regions of the anatomy according to one or more neurologic functions; determining the position of the one or more electrodes relative to the functional regions; based on the one or more neurologic functions, selecting one of the defined functional regions as a target functional region of the anatomy; providing an electric field model of the one or more electrodes based on its determined relative position; and determining, based on the electric field model, one or more electrode neuromodulation settings that produces a volume of activation that is estimated to at least partially encompass the targeted functional region of the anatomy. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A computer-implemented method for assisting the planning or performing of neuromodulation in a patient, comprising:
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receiving, by a computer processor, a first radiologic image of an electrode inside a patient, wherein the electrode is in a first position; receiving, by the processor, a second radiologic image of the electrode after a change in the position of the electrode, wherein the electrode is in a second position; determining, by the processor and based on the received first and second images, the position of the electrode in the second position relative to the electrode in the first position; calculating, by the processor, a first volume of activation estimated to be generated by the electrode in the first position; determining, by the processor, an electrode neuromodulation setting for the electrode in the second position estimated by the processor to produce a second volume of activation that at least partially encompasses the first volume of activation; and displaying, by the processor, the second volume of activation on a display screen. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A computer system that is programmed to perform steps that comprise:
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receiving a first radiologic image of one or more electrodes inside a patient, wherein the one or more electrodes is in a first position; receiving a second radiologic image of the one or more electrodes after a change in the position of at least one of the one or more electrodes, wherein the one or more electrodes is in a second position; determining the position of the one or more electrodes in the second position relative to the one or more electrodes in the first position; calculating a first volume of activation generated by the one or more electrodes in the first position; and determining an electrode neuromodulation setting for the one or more electrodes in the second position that produces a second volume of activation that at least partially encompasses the first volume of activation. - View Dependent Claims (42)
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43. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
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receiving a first radiologic image of an electrode inside a patient, wherein the electrode is in a first position; receiving a second radiologic image of the electrode after a change in the position of the electrode, wherein the electrode is in a second position; determining, based on the received first and second images, the position of the electrode in the second position relative to the electrode in the first position; calculating a first volume of activation estimated to be generated by the electrode in the first position; and determining an electrode neuromodulation setting for the electrode in the second position estimated by the processor to produce a second volume of activation that at least partially encompasses the first volume of activation.
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44. A computer-implemented method for assisting the planning or performing of spinal cord neuromodulation in a patient, comprising:
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determining, by a computer processor, at least one of (a) a thickness of cerebrospinal fluid at a location at which it separates a spinal cord from an electrode positioned adjacent the spinal cord and (b) a depth of the cerebrospinal fluid at which the cerebrospinal fluid separates the spinal cord from the electrode; calculating, by the computer processor, a volume of activation estimated to be created, under a set of electrode neuromodulation conditions, by the electrode positioned adjacent the spinal cord, wherein; the calculation is based on an electric field model of the electrode; the model is based on a characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid between the electrode and the spinal cord; and a degree to which the characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid affects the model used by the processor for calculating the volume of activation varies depending on the determined at least one of the thickness and depth of the cerebrospinal fluid that separates the electrode from the spinal cord; and displaying the predicted volume of activation on a display screen. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A computer system that is programmed to perform steps that comprise:
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determining at least one of (a) a thickness of cerebrospinal fluid at a location at which it separates a spinal cord from an electrode positioned adjacent the spinal cord and (b) a depth of the cerebrospinal fluid at which the cerebrospinal fluid separates the spinal cord from the electrode; providing an electric field model of the electrode positioned adjacent the spinal cord, wherein the model is based on a characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid; and using the electric field model to calculate a volume of activation estimated to be created by the electrode under a set of electrode neuromodulation conditions, wherein a degree to which the characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid affects the model used for the calculation of the volume of activation varies depending on the determined at least one of the thickness and depth of the cerebrospinal fluid that separates the electrode from the spinal cord.
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52. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
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determining at least one of (a) a thickness of cerebrospinal fluid at a location at which it separates a spinal cord from an electrode positioned adjacent the spinal cord and (b) a depth of the cerebrospinal fluid at which the cerebrospinal fluid separates the spinal cord from the electrode; providing an electric field model of the electrode positioned adjacent the spinal cord, wherein the model is based on a characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid; and using the electric field model to calculate a volume of activation estimated to be created by the electrode under a set of electrode neuromodulation conditions, wherein a degree to which the characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid affects the model used for the calculation of the volume of activation varies depending on the determined at least one of the thickness and depth of the cerebrospinal fluid that separates the electrode from the spinal cord.
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Specification