Automatic lead identification using electric field fingerprinting

• US 9,731,106 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Peterson, David K. L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morales, Jon Eric C
• Application Number:
  US12/941,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20110112609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,472 Days
• Field of Search: 607115, 607 27, 607 59, 607116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37241 providing test stimulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture

Abstract

A method, programmer for a neurostimulator, and neurostimulation kit are provided. The kit comprises a neurostimulator, and a plurality of elongated lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other. Electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue, an electrical fingerprint is measured at the proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, and the selected lead body is identified based on the measured electrical fingerprint. These steps can be performed by the programmer.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a lead body selected from a plurality of different lead bodies, each of which includes a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, the selected lead body being in contact with tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

conveying electrical energy between the plurality of distal electrodes of the selected lead body and the tissue;

measuring an electrical fingerprint of the selected lead body in response to the conveyed electrical energy, including measuring a plurality of electrical field potentials respectively at the plurality of proximal contacts of the selected lead body; and

identifying the selected lead body based on the measured electrical fingerprint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lead bodies comprises at least two lead bodies of a surgical paddle lead.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lead bodies comprises a lead body of a surgical paddle lead and a lead body of a percutaneous lead.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies differs from each other.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the measured electrical fingerprint to each of a plurality of reference electrical fingerprints corresponding to the different lead bodies;

determining a match between the measured electrical fingerprint and one of the reference electrical fingerprints; and

identifying the selected lead body as the lead body corresponding to the matching one of the reference electrical fingerprints.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein data points in the measured electrical fingerprint are computationally compared to data points in each of the reference electrical fingerprints.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the computation comparison for each of the reference electrical fingerprints comprises generating a correlation coefficient, wherein a match between the measured electrical fingerprint and the one reference electrical fingerprint is determined based on the values of the generated correlation coefficients.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the correlation coefficient is a Pearson correlation coefficient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming a neurostimulator with a plurality of stimulation parameters based on the identified lead body.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein programming the neurostimulator comprising programming an implantable pulse generator.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising implanting the selected lead body within the patient.

12. A programmer for a neurostimulator configured to be connected to a plurality of lead bodies each including a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, comprising:

a user interface configured for receiving user commands;

input circuitry configured for receiving an electrical fingerprint of a lead body selected from the plurality of lead bodies, the electrical fingerprint measured by a neurostimulator connected to the selected lead body and including a plurality of electrical field potentials respectively measured at the plurality of proximal contacts of the selected lead body;

a processor configured for automatically identifying the selected lead body from the plurality of lead bodies based on the measured electrical fingerprint of the selected lead body, and generating stimulation parameters for the identified lead body in response to the user commands; and

output circuitry for transmitting the stimulation parameters to the neurostimulator.

13. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the plurality of lead bodies comprises at least two lead bodies of a surgical paddle lead.

14. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the plurality of lead bodies comprises a lead body of a surgical paddle lead and a lead body of a percutaneous lead.

15. The programmer of claim 12, further comprising memory storing a plurality of reference electrical fingerprints corresponding to the different lead bodies, wherein the processor is configured for comparing the measured electrical fingerprint to each of a plurality of reference electrical fingerprints, determining a match between the measured electrical fingerprint and one of the reference electrical fingerprints, and identifying the selected lead body as the lead body corresponding to the matching one of the reference electrical fingerprints.

16. The programmer of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured for computationally comparing data points in the measured electrical fingerprint to data points in each of the reference electrical fingerprints.

17. The programmer of claim 16, wherein the computation comparison for each of the reference electrical fingerprints comprises generating a correlation coefficient, wherein the processor is configured for determining a match between the measured electrical fingerprint and the one reference electrical fingerprint based on the values of the generated correlation coefficients.

18. The programmer of claim 17, wherein the correlation coefficient is a Pearson correlation coefficient.

19. The programmer of claim 12, wherein the output circuitry comprises telemetry circuitry.

20. An implantable neurostimulation kit, comprising:

a neurostimulator; and

a plurality of lead bodies configured for being coupled to the neurostimulator, each having a plurality of proximal contacts and a plurality of distal electrodes respectively electrically coupled to the proximal contacts, wherein an in-line connectivity between the electrodes and proximal contacts carried by the different lead bodies of the plurality of lead bodies differs from each other such that conveyance of electrical energy using a lead body selected from the plurality of lead bodies creates an electrical fingerprint that allows for identification of the selected lead body from the plurality of lead bodies, the electrical fingerprint including a plurality of electrical field potentials respectively measured at the plurality of proximal contacts of the selected lead body in response to the conveyance of the electrical energy using the selected lead body.

21. The neurostimulation kit of claim 20, wherein the neurostimulator is an implantable pulse generator.

22. The neurostimulation kit of claim 21, wherein the implantable pulse generator is configured to measure the electrical fingerprint.

23. The neurostimulation kit of claim 20, further comprising at least one spinal cord stimulation lead having the plurality of lead bodies.

24. The neurostimulation kit of claim 20, further comprising a surgical paddle lead having the plurality of lead bodies.

25. The neurostimulation kit of claim 20, further comprising a surgical paddle lead having one of the plurality of lead bodies, and a percutaneous lead having another of the plurality of lead bodies.