Method and System of Bracketing Stimulation Parameters on Clinician Programmers

• US 20140067016A1
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cirtec Medical Corp.
• Original Assignee: Greatbatch Limited (Greatbatch Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kaula, Norbert, Iyassu, Yohannes
• Granted Patent: US 10,668,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

The present disclosure involves a method of setting stimulation parameters for neurostimulation. A plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing is displayed. The stimulation parameters are selected from the group consisting of: stimulation current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and contact location. Thereafter, in response to an input from a user, at least a subset of the stimulation parameters is selected for bracketing. A respective initial value is then obtained for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset. Thereafter, a bracketing process is used to generate a plurality of bracketed values for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset. The bracketed values are generated as a function of the initial value. A plurality of stimulation pulses is then delivered to a patient through a neurostimulator that is automatically programmed with a different combination of the bracketed values for the stimulation parameters for each stimulation pulse.

Claims

1. An electronic device for setting stimulation parameters of a neurostimulator to deliver neurostimulation to a patient, the electronic device comprising:

a memory storage component configured to store programming code; and

a computer processor configured to execute the programming code to perform the following tasks;

displaying a plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing, the stimulation parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

stimulation current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and contact location;

selecting, in response to an input from a user, at least a subset of the stimulation parameters for bracketing;

obtaining a respective initial value for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset;

generating, through a bracketing process, a plurality of bracketed values for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset, wherein the bracketed values are generated as a function of the initial value; and

automatically programming the neurostimulator to deliver a plurality of stimulation pulses to the patient, wherein a different combination of the bracketed values is programmed into the neurostimulator for each stimulation pulse.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the tasks further comprise:

receiving patient feedback for each of the stimulation pulses; and

recommending, based on the received patient feedback, one or more of the stimulation pulses as optimal stimulation pulses.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the selected subset contains at least two different types of stimulation parameters.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the bracketed values for each stimulation parameter include the initial value.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the tasks further comprise:

obtaining a respective step size for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the generating the bracketed values comprises generating each bracketed value to be offset from the initial value by a different integer multiple of the step size associated with the stimulation parameter, and wherein the initial value is a median of the bracketed values.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the automatically programming is performed for a single contact having a first electrode polarity, and wherein the tasks further comprise:

assigning a second electrode polarity opposite the first electrode polarity to the single contact; and

thereafter repeating the automatically programming for the single contact.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the respective initial value comprises receiving the respective initial value from the user or calculating the initial values using a Computer Assisted Stimulation Programming (CASP) technique.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a portable clinician programmer that further comprises a touchscreen configured to display a touch-sensitive graphical user interface.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the touch-sensitive graphical user interface is configured to display a programming screen for programming one or more electrodes on an implanted lead, the programming screen containing a bracketing icon which, upon being pressed by the user, triggers the displaying of the plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing.

11. A medical system, comprising:

a neurostimulator configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via one or more of a plurality of contacts located on a lead; and

a portable electronic programmer having an electronic processor and a touch-sensitive graphical user interface, wherein the electronic programmer is configured to;

display, through the touch-sensitive graphical user interface, a plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing, the stimulation parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

stimulation current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and contact location;

select, in response to a user input received through the touch-sensitive graphical user interface, at least a subset of the stimulation parameters for bracketing;

obtain a respective initial value for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset;

generate, through a bracketing process performed by the electronic processor, a plurality of bracketed values for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset, wherein the bracketed values are generated as a function of the initial value; and

program, without requiring any user input, the neurostimulator to deliver a plurality of stimulation pulses to the patient, wherein a different combination of the bracketed values is programmed into the neuro stimulator for each stimulation pulse.

12. The medical system of claim 11, further comprising a patient feedback tool, and wherein the electronic programmer is further configured to:

receive, through the patient feedback tool, patient feedback for each of the stimulation pulses; and

recommend, based on the received patient feedback, one or more of the stimulation pulses as optimal stimulation pulses.

13. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the selected subset contains at least two different types of stimulation parameters.

14. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the bracketed values for each stimulation parameter include the initial value.

15. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the electronic programmer is further configured to:

obtain a respective step size for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset.

16. The medical system of claim 15, wherein each bracketed value is offset from the initial value by a different integer multiple of the step size associated with the stimulation parameter, and wherein the initial value is a median of the bracketed values.

17. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the electronic programmer is configured to program a single contact of the neurostimulator having a first electrode polarity, and wherein the electronic programmer is further configured to:

assign a second electrode polarity opposite the first electrode polarity to the single contact; and

thereafter repeat the delivering for the single contact.

18. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the respective initial values are received from the user or calculated using a Computer Assisted Stimulation Programming (CASP) technique.

19. The medical system of claim 11, wherein the clinician programmer has a touchscreen configured to display the touch-sensitive graphical user interface, and wherein the touch-sensitive graphical user interface includes a programming screen for programming one or more contacts on the lead, the programming screen containing a bracketing icon which, upon being pressed by the user, triggers the display of the plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing.

20. A method of setting stimulation parameters for neurostimulation, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing, the stimulation parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

stimulation current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and contact location;

selecting, in response to an input from a user, at least a subset of the stimulation parameters for bracketing;

obtaining a respective initial value for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset;

generating, through a bracketing process, a plurality of bracketed values for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset, wherein the bracketed values are generated as a function of the initial value; and

delivering a plurality of stimulation pulses to a patient through a neurostimulator that is automatically programmed with a different combination of the bracketed values for the stimulation parameters for each stimulation pulse.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

receiving patient feedback for each of the stimulation pulses; and

recommending, based on the received patient feedback, one or more of the stimulation pulses as optimal stimulation pulses.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the selected subset contains at least two different types of stimulation parameters.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the bracketed values for each stimulation parameter include the initial value.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

obtaining a respective step size for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the generating the bracketed values comprises generating each bracketed value to be offset from the initial value by a different integer multiple of the step size associated with the stimulation parameter, and wherein the initial value is a median of the bracketed values.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the delivering is performed for a single contact having a first electrode polarity, and further comprising:

assigning a second electrode polarity opposite the first electrode polarity to the single contact; and

thereafter repeating the delivering for the single contact.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the obtaining the respective initial value comprises receiving the respective initial value from the user or calculating the initial values using a Computer Assisted Stimulation Programming (CASP) technique.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the displaying, the selecting, the obtaining, the generating, and the delivering are performed by a clinician programmer having a touchscreen configured to display a touch-sensitive graphical user interface.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the touch-sensitive graphical user interface includes a programming screen for programming one or more contacts on an implanted lead, the programming screen containing a bracketing icon which, upon being pressed by the user, triggers the displaying of the plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing.

30. An electronic apparatus for setting stimulation parameters of a neurostimulator to deliver neurostimulation, the electronic apparatus comprising:

input/output means for communicating with a user, the input/output means including a touch-sensitive screen configured to detect an input from the user and display an output to the user;

memory storage means for storing executable instructions; and

computer processor means for executing the instructions to perform the following tasks;

displaying a plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing, the stimulation parameters being selected from the group consisting of;

stimulation current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and contact location;

selecting, in response to an input from a user, at least a subset of the stimulation parameters for bracketing;

obtaining a respective initial value for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset;

generating, through a bracketing process, a plurality of bracketed values for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset, wherein the bracketed values are generated as a function of the initial value; and

automatically programming, without requiring user input, the neurostimulator to deliver a plurality of stimulation pulses to the patient, wherein a different combination of the bracketed values is programmed into the neurostimulator for each stimulation pulse.

31. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the tasks further comprise:

receiving patient feedback for each of the stimulation pulses; and

recommending, based on the received patient feedback, one or more of the stimulation pulses as optimal stimulation pulses.

32. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the selected subset contains at least two different types of stimulation parameters.

33. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the bracketed values for each stimulation parameter include the initial value.

34. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the tasks further comprise:

obtaining a respective step size for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset.

35. The electronic apparatus of claim 34, wherein the generating the bracketed values comprises generating each bracketed value to be offset from the initial value by a different integer multiple of the step size associated with the stimulation parameter, and wherein the initial value is a median of the bracketed values.

36. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the automatically programming is performed for a single contact having a first electrode polarity, and wherein the tasks further comprise:

assigning a second electrode polarity opposite the first electrode polarity to the single contact; and

thereafter repeating the automatically programming for the single contact.

37. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the obtaining the respective initial value comprises receiving the respective initial value from the user or calculating the initial values using a Computer Assisted Stimulation Programming (CASP) technique.

38. The electronic apparatus of claim 30, wherein the touch-sensitive screen is configured to display a programming screen for programming one or more electrodes on an implanted lead, the programming screen containing a bracketing icon which, upon being pressed by the user, triggers the displaying of the plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing.