Positioning leads on patient model using a graphical user interface

• US 9,174,048 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2011
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Polefko, Richard J., Wilder, Steven E., Leyh, Scott G.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US13/226,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20130060300A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,518 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/59
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• 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

Abstract

A stimulation system, such as a spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system, for storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient. A communication unit is configured to receive, from a first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to a spinal column of the patient and an anatomically correct image of the spinal column. The communication unit is further configured to forward the position data, and to transmit both to a second programmer. The second programmer is then able to display a representation of the implanted medical lead on the anatomically correct image in an anatomically correct location and in an actual orientation based on the position data.

Claims

1. A method of storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient for use with a stimulation system for treating the patient, the stimulation system including

an electrical stimulation generator having a memory and a communication unit, the electrical stimulation generator being coupled to the implanted medical lead having a plurality of electrodes, and

a first programmer and a second programmer configured to communicate with the electrical stimulation generator via the communication unit, the method comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to an anatomically correct representation of a spinal column for the patient;

receiving, from the first programmer, an image identifier for selecting an image of the spinal column from a database and a lead identifier for selecting graphical models of the implanted medical lead from the database;

storing the position data and the image identifier and the lead identifier in the memory;

transmitting the position data and the image identifier and the lead identifier to the second programmer via the communication unit;

using the image identifier to select, from a plurality of images stored in the database, a copy of the image of the spinal column;

using the lead identifier to select, from a plurality of graphical models stored in the database, a graphical model of the implanted medical lead; and

displaying, via the second programmer and based on the position data, the selected copy of the image of the spinal column overlain by the selected graphical model of the implanted medical lead so as to mirror the actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to the anatomically correct representation of the spinal column for the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, from the second programmer, a modified stimulation program specifying a second set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the second set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the position data is initially input to the first programmer via a graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is implanted within the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a scaling parameter from the first programmer, wherein the scaling parameter is configured to scale at least one of;

a size of the image of the spinal column or a size of the graphical of the implanted medical lead;

storing the scaling parameter in the memory; and

transmitting the scaling parameter to the second programmer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the displaying comprises scaling a size of the selected copy of the image of the spinal column according to the scaling parameter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the displaying further comprises scaling a size of the selected graphical model of the implanted medical lead according to the scaling parameter.

9. A method of storing position information of an implanted medical lead implanted in a patient for use with a stimulation system for treating the patient,

the method comprising:

receiving, from a first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of an implanted medical lead with respect to an anatomically correct representation of a spinal column for the patient;

receiving, from the first programmer, an image identifier for selecting an image of the spinal column from a database and a lead identifier for selecting graphical models of the implanted medical lead from the database;

storing the position data and the image identifier and the lead identifier in a memory of an electrical stimulation generator;

transmitting the position data and the image identifier and the lead identifier to the second programmer;

using the image identifier to select, from a plurality of images stored in the database, a copy of the image of the spinal column;

using the lead identifier to select, from a plurality of graphical models stored in the database, a graphical model of the implanted medical lead; and

displaying, via the second programmer and based on the position data, the selected copy of the image of the spinal column overlain by the selected graphical model of the implanted medical lead so as to mirror the actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to the anatomically correct representation of the spinal column for the patient.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving, from the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving, from the second programmer, a modified stimulation program specifying a second set of stimulation parameters; and

generating stimulation with the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead according to the second set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the position data is initially input to the first programmer via a graphical user interface.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is implanted within the patient.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a scaling parameter from the first programmer, wherein the scaling parameter is configured to scale at least one of;

a size of the image of the spinal column or a size of the graphical of the implanted medical lead;

storing the scaling parameter in the memory; and

transmitting the scaling parameter to the second programmer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the displaying comprises scaling, according to the scaling parameter, at least one of:

a size of the selected copy of the image of the spinal column or a size of the selected graphical model of the implanted medical lead.

16. A medical system, comprising:

an electrical stimulation generator having a memory and a communication unit, the electrical stimulation generator being configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the patient through an implanted medical lead having a plurality of electrodes; and

a first programmer and a second programmer each configured to communicate with the electrical stimulation generator via the communication unit;

wherein;

the electrical stimulation generator is configured to receive, from the first programmer, position data that indicates an actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to an anatomically correct representation of a spinal column for the patient;

the electrical stimulation generator is configured to receive, from the first programmer, an image identifier for selecting an image of the spinal column from a database and a lead identifier for selecting graphical models of the implanted medical lead from the database;

the electrical stimulation generator is configured to store the position data and the image identifier and the lead identifier in the memory;

the electrical stimulation generator is configured to transmit the position data and the image identifier and the lead identifier to the second programmer via the communication unit;

the second programmer is configured to use the image identifier to select, from a plurality of images stored in the database, a copy of the image of the spinal column;

the second programmer is configured to use the lead identifier to select, from a plurality of graphical models stored in the database, a graphical model of the implanted medical lead; and

the second programmer is configured to display, based on the position data, the selected copy of the image of the spinal column overlain by the selected graphical model of the implanted medical lead so as to mirror the actual position of the implanted medical lead with respect to the anatomically correct representation of the spinal column for the patient.

17. The medical system of claim 16, wherein:

the electrical stimulation generator is configured to receive, from the first programmer, a stimulation program specifying a first set of stimulation parameters; and

the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead are collectively configured to generate stimulation according to the first set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

18. The medical system of claim 16, wherein:

the electrical stimulation generator is configured to receive, from the second programmer, a modified stimulation program specifying a second set of stimulation parameters; and

the electrical stimulation generator and the implanted medical lead are collectively configured to generate stimulation according to the second set of stimulation parameters to treat the patient.

19. The medical system of claim 16, wherein the electrical stimulation generator is further configured to:

receive a scaling parameter from the first programmer, wherein the scaling parameter is configured to scale at least one of;

a size of the image of the spinal column or a size of the graphical of the implanted medical lead;

store the scaling parameter in the memory; and

transmit the scaling parameter to the second programmer.

20. The medical system of claim 19, wherein the second programmer is configured to scale, according to the scaling parameter, at least one of:

a size of the selected copy of the image of the spinal column or a size of the selected graphical model of the implanted medical lead.