CONFIGURING STIMULATION THERAPY USING STIMULATION INTENSITY

• US 20090270947A1
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Goetz, Steven M., Stone, Richard T., Gerber, Martin T., Molnar, Gregory F., Miyazawa, Gabriela C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

Techniques for configuring electrical stimulation therapy utilizing one or more stimulation intensity values are described. In one example, a method includes receiving a stimulation intensity value that corresponds to an equal intensity function; determining a pulse width value and a pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function; and controlling delivery of electrical stimulation pulses with the determined pulse width value and amplitude value to a patient. A stimulation intensity value may correspond to a plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values having substantially the same intensity. For example, the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values may activate a substantially equal volume of tissue when a stimulation pulse with the paired values is delivered.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a stimulation intensity value that corresponds to an equal intensity function;

determining a pulse width value and a pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function; and

controlling delivery of electrical stimulation pulses with the determined pulse width value and amplitude value to a patient.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the equal intensity function defines a plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values, each pair of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values activating a substantially equal volume of tissue when electrical stimulation is delivered having the respective paired pulse width and amplitude values, and

wherein determining the pulse width value and the pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function comprises selecting one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values comprises selecting the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on at least one of relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values, physiological guidelines, stimulation device limitations, stimulation device interlocks, or a type of tissue to be activated.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values comprises selecting the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values, wherein relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude changes with respect to time, the method further comprising:

detecting a new relative efficiency of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values, wherein selecting one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values further comprises selecting the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on the new relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values

5. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values comprises selecting the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on relative power source consumption for delivery of stimulation pulses with the paired pulse width and amplitude values.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the equal intensity function from among a plurality of equal intensity functions based on the received stimulation intensity value, wherein each of the equal intensity functions is associated with a respective one of a plurality of stimulation intensity values.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising associating the stimulation intensity values with equal intensity functions based on patient-specific thresholds.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a stimulation intensity value comprises receiving input specifying the stimulation intensity value from a user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a graphical representation that corresponds to a plurality of stimulation intensity values to the user via a user interface to allow the user to select the stimulation intensity value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the graphical representation comprises a slider-bar.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the graphical representation comprises a representation of a stimulation field.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation intensity value comprises at least one of a unitless alphanumeric value, a percentage of a maximum stimulation intensity value, or a standardized value.

13. A system comprising:

a medical device that delivers electrical stimulation pulses to a patient; and

a processor that receives a stimulation intensity value that corresponds to an equal intensity function, determines a pulse width value and a pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function, and controls the medical device to deliver electrical stimulation pulses with the determined pulse width value and amplitude value to a patient.

14. The system of claim 13,

wherein the equal intensity function defines a plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values, each pair of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values activating a substantially equal volume of tissue when electrical stimulation is delivered having the respective paired pulse width and amplitude values, and

wherein the processor selects one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values as the determined pulse width value and amplitude value.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor selects the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on at least one of relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values, physiological guidelines, limitations of the medical device, interlocks of the medical device, or a type of tissue to be activated.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor selects the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values, wherein relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values changes with respect to time, wherein the processor detects a new relative efficiency of the plurality of pulse width and amplitude values and selects the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on the new relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor selects the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on relative power source consumption for delivery of stimulation pulses with the paired pulse width and amplitude values.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor selects the equal intensity function from among a plurality of equal intensity functions based on the received stimulation intensity value, wherein each of the equal intensity functions is associated with a respective one of a plurality of stimulation intensity values.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor associates the stimulation intensity values with equal intensity functions based on patient-specific thresholds.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising a user interface, wherein the processor receives input specifying the stimulation intensity value from a user via the user interface.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor displays a graphical representation that corresponds to a plurality of stimulation intensity values to the user via the user interface for selection of the stimulation intensity value.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical representation comprises a slider-bar.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the graphical representation comprises a representation of a stimulation field.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the stimulation intensity value comprises at least one of a unitless alphanumeric value, a percentage of a maximum stimulation intensity value, or a standardized value.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the medical device is implantable, and the processor comprises a processor of an external programmer for the medical device.

26. The system of claim 13, wherein the medical device is implantable, and the processor comprises a processor of the medical device.

27. A system comprising:

means for receiving a stimulation intensity value that corresponds to an equal intensity function;

means for determining a pulse width value and a pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function; and

means for controlling delivery of electrical stimulation pulses with the determined pulse width value and amplitude value to a patient.

28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to cause a programmable processor to:

receive a stimulation intensity value that corresponds to an equal intensity function;

determine a pulse width value and a pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function; and

control delivery of electrical stimulation pulses with the determined pulse width value and amplitude value to a patient.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28,

wherein the equal intensity function defines a plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values, each pair of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values activating a substantially equal volume of tissue when electrical stimulation is delivered having the respective paired pulse width and amplitude values, and

wherein the instructions to cause the processor to determine the pulse width value and the pulse amplitude value based on the equal intensity function comprise instructions to cause the processor to select one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to select one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values comprise instructions to cause the processor to select the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on relative efficiency of the paired pulse width and amplitude values.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the instructions to cause the processor to select one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values comprise instructions to cause the processor to select the one of the plurality of paired pulse width and amplitude values based on relative power source consumption for delivery of stimulation pulses with the paired pulse width and amplitude values.