Neurostimulation therapy usage diagnostics

• US 20040199215A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Vinup, Daniel K., Goetz, Steven M., Lee, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,505,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

An implantable medical device delivers neurostimulation therapy to a patient according to a parameter set. A parameter set may consist of a number of programs that are delivered substantially simultaneously. When programming the implantable medical device for the patient, a clinician programmer may maintain a session log for the patient that includes a listing of programs delivered to the patient and rating information provided by a clinician and the patient for programs of the list. The listing may be ordered according to the rating information in order to facilitate the selection of programs for a parameter set. A program library that may include particularly effective programs organized according to a directory structure may be stored in a memory. One or both of the implantable medical device and a patient programmer may store usage information that provides an objective assessment of therapy use by the patient, and allows a clinician to later improve the therapy based on the usage information.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording information relating to use of neurostimulation therapy parameter sets delivered by an implanted medical device to a patient, each of the parameter sets including at least one program, and each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

providing the recorded information to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein recording information comprises:

periodically identifying which of the parameter sets is currently being used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient; and

recording an indication of the identified parameter set and a time at which the identification occurred.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein recording information comprises:

receiving a parameter set selection made by the patient; and

recording an indication of the selection and a time at which the selection was made.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein recording information comprises recording information via at least one of an implantable medical device and a programming device associated with the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the recorded information comprises providing the information via a programming device associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the recorded information comprises displaying a histogram that illustrates percentages of a period of time that each of the parameter sets was used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the recorded information comprises providing a diagram that illustrates which of the parameter sets was being used to provide neurostimulation therapy at various times throughout a day.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

recording information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters made by the patient; and

providing the information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters to the user.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording information relating to neurostimulation therapy activation and deactivation.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing the recorded information comprises providing a diagram that illustrates the overall usage of neurostimulation therapy during consecutive time periods based on the activation and deactivation information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the information comprises depicting a calendar, and the time periods include one of days and weeks.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing the recorded information; and

suggesting neurostimulation therapy options to the user based on the analysis.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein analyzing the recorded information comprises identifying a frequently used parameter set, and suggesting neurostimulation therapy options comprises suggesting additional neurostimulation therapy programs that are similar to programs of the frequently used parameter set.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein suggesting additional programs comprises comparing the programs of the frequently used parameter set to programs identified by at least one of a session log that identifies programs tested on the patient during a programming session and a program library that stores programs according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the programs.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein analyzing recorded information comprises identifying an infrequently used parameter set, and suggesting neurostimulation therapy options comprises marking the infrequently used parameter set for removal from a list of parameter sets used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording information relating to the performance of a system that includes an implantable medical device implanted within the patient and a programming device associated with the patient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein recording information relating to the performance of a system comprises recording information relating to at least one of battery life, battery performance, power-on resets, resets, and telemetry outcomes.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording information relating to at least one of use of features of a programming device associated with the patient and user interface navigation patterns of the patient.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a clinician.

20. A device comprising:

a memory to store information; and

a processor to record information relating to use of neurostimulation therapy parameter sets delivered by an implanted medical device to a patient, store the recorded information in the memory, and provide the recorded information to a user, wherein each of the parameter sets includes at least one program, and each of the programs includes a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor periodically identifies which of the parameter sets is currently being used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient, and records an indication of the identified parameter set and a time at which the identification occurred.

22. The device of claim 20, further comprising a user interface, wherein the processor receives a parameter set selection made by the patient via the user interface, and records an indication of the selection and a time at which the selection was made.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein the device comprises at least one of an implantable medical device and a programming device associated with the patient.

24. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor provides the recorded information to a user by sending the recorded information to a programming device associated with the user.

25. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor records information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters made by the patient, and provides the information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters to the user.

26. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor records information relating to neurostimulation therapy activation and deactivation.

27. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor records information relating to the performance of a system that includes an implantable medical device implanted within the patient and a programming device associated with the patient.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the processor records information relating to the performance of a system comprises recording information relating to at least one of battery life, battery performance, power-on resets, resets, and telemetry outcomes.

29. The device of claim 20, wherein the processor records information relating to at least one of use of features of a programming device associated with the patient and user interface navigation patterns of the patient.

30. The device of claim 20, wherein the user is a clinician.

31. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

record information relating to use of neurostimulation therapy parameter sets delivered by an implanted medical device to a patient, each of the parameter sets including at least one program, and each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

provide the recorded information to a user.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

periodically identify which of the parameter sets is currently being used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient; and

record an indication of the identified parameter set and a time at which the identification occurred.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

receive a parameter set selection made by the patient; and

record an indication of the selection a time at which the selection was made.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to provide the recorded information to a user comprises instructions that cause a processor to send the recorded information to a programming device associated with the user.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

record information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters made by the patient; and

provide the information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters to the user.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to record information relating to neurostimulation therapy activation and deactivation.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to record information relating to the performance of a system that includes an implantable medical device implanted within the patient and a programming device associated with the patient.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to record information relating to the performance of a system comprise instructions that cause a processor to record information relating to at least one of battery life, battery performance, power-on resets, resets, and telemetry outcomes.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to record information relating to at least one of use of features of a programming device associated with the patient and user interface navigation patterns of the patient.

40. A device comprising:

a display to provide information to a user; and

a processor to receive recorded information relating to use of neurostimulation therapy parameter sets delivered by an implanted medical device to a patient, and provide the recorded information to the user via the display, wherein each of the parameter sets includes at least one program, and each of the programs includes a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters.

41. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor displays a histogram that illustrates percentages of a period of time that each of the parameter sets was used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

42. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor displays a diagram that illustrates which of the parameter sets was being used to provide neurostimulation therapy at various times throughout a day.

43. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor receives recorded information relating to neurostimulation therapy activation and deactivation, and displays a diagram that illustrates the overall usage of neurostimulation therapy during consecutive time periods based on the activation and deactivation information.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the processor displays a depiction of a calendar, and the time periods include one of days and weeks.

45. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor displays a depiction of a value of a neurostimulation program parameter over time.

46. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor analyzes the recorded information, and suggests neurostimulation therapy options to the user based on the analysis.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein the processor identifies a frequently used parameter set, and suggests an additional program that is similar to a program of the frequently used parameter set.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the processor compares programs of the frequently used parameter set to programs identified by at least one of a session log that includes information identifying programs tested on the patient during a programming session and a program library that stores programs according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the programs.

49. The device of claim 46, wherein the processor identifies an infrequently used parameter set, displays a list of parameter sets used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient that includes the infrequently used parameter set, and marks the infrequently used parameter set for removal from the list.

50. The device of claim 40, wherein the user is a clinician, and the device comprises a programming device associated with the clinician.

51. The device of claim 40, wherein the processor receives the recorded information from at least one of an implantable medical device and a programming device associated with the patient.

52. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive recorded information relating to use of neurostimulation therapy parameter sets delivered by an implanted medical device to a patient, each of the parameter sets including at least one program, and each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

provide the recorded information to the user via the display.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the instructions cause a processor to display a histogram that illustrates percentages of a period of time that each of the parameter sets was used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the instructions cause a processor to display a diagram that illustrates which of the parameter sets was being used to provide neurostimulation therapy at various times throughout a day.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

receive recorded information relating to neurostimulation therapy activation and deactivation; and

display a diagram that illustrates the overall usage of neurostimulation therapy during consecutive time periods based on the activation and deactivation information.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 55, wherein the instructions that cause a processor to display a diagram comprise instructions that cause a processor to display a depiction of a calendar, and the time periods include one of days and weeks.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the instructions cause a processor to display a depiction of a value of a neurostimulation program parameter over time.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, further comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

analyze the recorded information; and

suggest neurostimulation therapy options to the user based on the analysis.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

identify a frequently used parameter set; and

suggest an additional program that is similar to a program of the frequently used parameter set.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 59, wherein the instructions cause a processor to compare programs of the frequently used parameter set to programs identified by at least one of a session log that includes information identifying programs tested on the patient during a programming session and a program library that stores programs according to a set of hierarchical categories, wherein each of the categories is related to a characteristic of at least one of the programs.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 58, wherein the instructions cause a processor to:

identify an infrequently used parameter set;

display a list of parameter sets used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient that includes the infrequently used parameter set; and

mark the infrequently used parameter set for removal from the list.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the instructions cause a processor to receive the recorded information from at least one of an implantable medical device and a programming device associated with the patient.

63. A method comprising:

recording information relating to use of neurostimulation therapy programs delivered by an implanted medical device to a patient, each of the programs including a plurality of neurostimulation therapy parameters; and

providing the recorded information to a user to allow the user to compare amounts of use of the programs.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein providing the recorded information comprises displaying a histogram that illustrates percentages of a period of time that each of the programs was used to provide neurostimulation therapy to the patient.

65. The method of claim 63, wherein providing the recorded information comprises providing a diagram that illustrates which of the programs was being used to provide neurostimulation therapy at various times throughout a day.

66. The method of claim 63, further comprising:

recording information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters of at least one of the programs made by the patient; and

providing the information relating to adjustments to neurostimulation therapy program parameters to the user.