System and method for programming neurostimulation devices using cached plug-in software drivers

• US 9,119,969 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Vansickle, Dennis Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US14/321,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• 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 system for programming a plurality of different models, or generations, of neurostimulation devices includes a plurality of plug in software drivers stored on a hard drive of the system, wherein the plurality of plug-in software drivers are respectively configured for facilitating communication between the plurality of different models of neurostimulation devices and the system processor via a transceiver. In a method of programming a plurality of different models of neurostimulation devices, the system processor dynamically identifies the model of an interrogated neurostimulator and determines which plug-in software driver to use for programming the interrogated neurostimulator. The plug-in software drivers are cached into memory upon start-up of the system.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with one of a plurality of neurostimulation devices respectively of different models, the method comprising:

caching a plurality of plug-in software drivers from a hard drive into memory, the plurality of plug-in software drivers respectively corresponding to the different models;

selecting one of the plug-in software drivers from the memory; and

communicating with the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising interrogating the one neurostimulation device, wherein the one plug-in software driver corresponding to the model of the interrogated neurostimulation device model is selected.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plug-in software drivers are dynamic link library (DLL) plug-ins, and the programming of the one neurostimulation device comprises issuing generic commands, and using the chosen DLL plug-in to translate the generic commands into specialized commands to program the neurostimulation device.

5. A method for communicating with one of a plurality of neurostimulation devices respectively of different models, the method comprising:

interrogating the one neurostimulation device;

determining the model of the interrogated neurostimulation device;

selecting one of a plurality of plug-in software drivers respectively corresponding to the plurality of different models, wherein the one plug-in software driver is selected based on the determined one neurostimulation device; and

communicating with the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising programming the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising downloading information from the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein interrogating the one neurostimulation device comprises accessing a hard drive of the one neurostimulation device and obtaining identifying information from the hard drive of the one interrogated neurostimulator.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the one plug-in software drivers comprises:

comparing the model of the interrogated neurostimulator to the model associated with the plug-in software drivers;

determining that the model of the interrogated neurostimulator matches one of the models associated with one of the plug-in software drivers; and

selecting the plug-in software driver associated with the matching model.

10. The method of claim 5,

interrogating another one of the neurostimulation devices;

determining the model of the other interrogated neurostimulation device;

selecting another one of a plurality of plug-in software drivers based on the determined one other neurostimulation device; and

communicating with the one other neurostimulation device using the other selected plug-in software driver.

11. The method of claim 5, further comprising, before interrogating the one neurostimulation device, caching the plurality of plug-in software drivers from a hard drive into memory.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the plug-in software drivers are dynamic link library (DLL) plug-ins, and the programming of the one neurostimulation device model comprises issuing generic commands, and using the chosen DLL plug-in to translate the generic commands into specialized commands to program the neurostimulation device model.

13. A method for communicating with one of a plurality of neurostimulation devices respectively of different models, the method comprising:

interrogating the one neurostimulation device;

determining the model of the interrogated neurostimulation device;

selecting one of a plurality of plug-in software drivers respectively corresponding to the plurality of different models, wherein the one plug-in software driver is selected based on the determined one neurostimulation device;

communicating with the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver;

programming the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver; and

downloading information from the one neurostimulation device using the selected plug-in software driver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein interrogating the one neurostimulation device comprises accessing a hard drive of the one neurostimulation device and obtaining identifying information from the hard drive of the one interrogated neurostimulator.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein selecting the one plug-in software drivers comprises:

comparing the model of the interrogated neurostimulator to the model associated with the plug-in software drivers;

determining that the model of the interrogated neurostimulator matches one of the models associated with one of the plug-in software drivers; and

selecting the plug-in software driver associated with the matching model.

16. The method of claim 13,

interrogating another one of the neurostimulation devices;

determining the model of the other interrogated neurostimulation device;

selecting another one of a plurality of plug-in software drivers based on the determined one other neurostimulation device; and

communicating with the one other neurostimulation device using the other selected plug-in software driver.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising, before interrogating the one neurostimulation device, caching the plurality of plug-in software drivers from a hard drive into memory.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the plug-in software drivers are dynamic link library (DLL) plug-ins, and the programming of the one neurostimulation device model comprises issuing generic commands, and using the chosen DLL plug-in to translate the generic commands into specialized commands to program the neurostimulation device model.