Augmented and virtual reality for use with neuromodulation therapy

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12089899-B2
Application number	US-202218068984-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2022
Priority date	Jul 30, 2018
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A virtual or augmented reality system is disclosed which is capable of both (i) evaluating prospective implantable neurostimulator patient candidates, and (ii) determining optimal stimulation settings for already-implanted neurostimulation patients. Physiological sensors are included with the system to provide objective measurements relevant to a patient's symptoms, such as pain in a Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) system. Such objective measurements are determined during the presentation of various virtual or augmented environments, and can be useful to determining which patients are suitable candidates to consider for implantation. Stimulation settings for already-implanted patients may be adjusted while presenting a virtual or augmented environment to the patient, with objective measurements being determined for each stimulation setting. Such objective measurements can then be used to determine optimal stimulation settings for the patient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for assessing a patient having a neurostimulator, comprising:
communicating from a computer device a plurality of sets of stimulation parameters for execution by the patient's neurostimulator, wherein each of the sets of stimulation parameters is communicated to the patient's neurostimulator at a different time;
providing from the computer device one or more virtual environments that are presented to the patient during the execution of each of the sets of stimulation parameters using virtual reality equipment;
receiving at the computer device one or more physiological measurements taken from the patient during the execution of each of the sets of stimulation parameters;
determining at the computer device a therapeutic efficacy score for each of the sets of stimulation parameters based on the one or more physiological measurements taken from the patient during each set of stimulation parameters; and
determining at the computer device a set of stimulation parameters for the patient using the therapeutic efficacy scores.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual environments presented to the patient during execution of one set of the sets of stimulation parameters is based on that one set of stimulation parameters.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual environments presented to the patient during execution of one set of the sets of stimulation parameters is based on the one or more physiological measurements received during that one set of stimulation parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual environments presented to the patient during execution of one set of the sets of stimulation parameters is based on that one set of stimulation parameters and is based on the one or more physiological measurements received during that one set of stimulation parameters.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more virtual environments presented to the patient during execution of one set of the sets of stimulation parameters comprises an image indicative of pain derived from the one or more physiological measurements received during that one set of stimulation parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality equipment comprises a headset.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual reality equipment comprises a virtual reality room.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters using the therapeutic efficacy scores comprises determining the set of stimulation parameters having a best of the therapeutic efficacy scores.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more physiological measurements are taken from the patient using one or more physiological sensors associated with the patient.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the one or more physiological sensors comprise one or more of a heart sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, a respiration rate sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, a chemical sensor, a neurological sensor, an eye sensor, a temperature sensor, or a motion sensor.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more virtual environments comprises an image of a person performing an activity.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more virtual environments comprises an image designed to elicit a movement response from the candidate patient.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the neurostimulation therapy comprises spinal cord stimulation therapy.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device comprises a clinician programmer configured to communicate with the patient's neurostimulator.

15. A non-transitory computer readable media including instruction executable on a computer device, wherein the instructions when executed are configured to assess a patient having a neurostimulator by:
communicating from the computer device a plurality of sets of stimulation parameters for execution by the patient's neurostimulator, wherein each of the sets of stimulation parameters is communicated to the patient's neurostimulator at a different time;
providing from the computer device one or more virtual environments that are presented to the patient during the execution of each of the sets of stimulation parameters using virtual reality equipment;
receiving at the computer device one or more physiological measurements taken from the patient during the execution of each of the sets of stimulation parameters;
determining at the computer device a therapeutic efficacy score for each of the sets of stimulation parameters based on the one or more physiological measurements taken from the patient during each set of stimulation parameters; and
determining at the computer device a set of stimulation parameters for the patient using the therapeutic efficacy scores.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Neuromodulation Corp

Inventors

• Annoni Elizabeth M
• Clark Bryan A
• Zottola Dennis
• Srivastava Kyle H
• Shute Jonathan B

Classifications

• A61B5/398

  Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG] · CPC title

• A61B5/384

  Recording apparatus or displays specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A61B5/318

  Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG] · CPC title

• A61B5/1468

  using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means · CPC title

• A61B5/11

  Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)} · CPC title