Method and system of bracketing stimulation parameters on clinician programmers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10668276-B2
Application number	US-201313973292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2013
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device for setting stimulation parameters of a neurostimulator to deliver neurostimulation to a patient, the electronic device comprising:
a user interface;
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, wherein a first subset of the bracketed values are each greater than the initial value, and wherein a second subset of the bracketed values are each less than the initial value;
receiving, via the user interface, a specified length of a pause between consecutive stimulation pulses; 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, and wherein the automatically programming is performed without requiring user input and includes automatically pausing stimulation according to the specified length between consecutive ones of the stimulation pulses.

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, and wherein at least one of the stimulation parameters is a stimulation frequency or a stimulation pulse width.

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 user interface comprises a touchscreen.

10. The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the 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, wherein at least some of the bracketed values are each greater than the initial value;
receiving, via the touch-sensitive graphical user interface, a specified length of a pause between consecutive stimulation pulses; and
automatically 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 neurostimulator for each stimulation pulse, and wherein the neurostimulator is automatically programmed without requiring user input, and wherein the stimulation pulses are automatically paused according to the specified length between consecutive ones of the stimulation pulses.

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, and wherein at least one of the stimulation parameters is a stimulation frequency or a stimulation pulse width.

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 a programming of the neurostimulator to deliver the plurality of stimulation pulses 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 Stimulatio

Assignees

• Greatbatch Ltd
• Cirtec Medical Corp

Inventors

• Kaula Norbert
• Iyassu Yohannes

Classifications

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• A61N1/36132

  using patient feedback · CPC title

• A61N1/37247 Primary

  User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means · CPC title

• A61N1/08 Primary

  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 title

• G16H50/50

  for simulation or modelling of medical disorders · CPC title