Neurostimulation programmer and method for globally assigning parameter values to electrodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016158564-A1
Application number	US-201615019229-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2016
Priority date	Oct 10, 2012
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An external control device for use with a neurostimulator coupled to electrodes. The external control device comprises a user interface configured for receiving input from a user, and including a display screen configured for displaying graphical representations of the electrodes. The external control device further comprises a controller/processor configured for, in response to the input from the user, linking a subset of the electrodes together, and globally assigning at least one of the same stimulation amplitude value and same on/off state to each of the electrodes. The controller/processor may also be configured for, in response to the input from the user, assigning at least one stimulation parameter value to one of the electrodes, copying/cutting the at least one stimulation parameter value from the one electrode, and pasting the at least one stimulation parameter value to the other electrode and modifying current values of other electrodes to maintain 100% current.

First claim

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . An external control device for use with a neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes capable of conveying electrical stimulation energy into tissue in which the electrodes are implanted, comprising:
a user interface configured for receiving input from a user, the user interface including a display screen configured for displaying graphical representations of the electrodes; a controller/processor configured for, in response to the input from the user, assigning at least one stimulation parameter value to one of the electrodes, copying/cutting the at least one stimulation parameter value from the one electrode, and pasting the at least one stimulation parameter value to the other electrode; and output circuitry configured for transmitting the at least one stimulation parameter value to the neurostimulator.

17 . The external control device of claim 16 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter value comprises at least one of a stimulation amplitude value and an on/off state.

18 . The external control device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the stimulation amplitude value and on/off state comprises the stimulation amplitude value.

19 . The external control device of claim 18 , wherein the stimulation amplitude value is a fractionalized amplitude value.

20 . The external control device of claim 18 , wherein the display screen is configured for displaying a stimulation amplitude adjustment control, and the user input comprises repeatedly actuating the stimulation amplitude adjustment control to incrementally increase or decrease the stimulation amplitude value.

21 . The external control device of claim 18 , wherein the display screen is configured for displaying a graphical data entry symbol, and the user input comprises writing or typing the stimulation amplitude value into the graphical data entry symbol.

22 . The external control device of claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the stimulation amplitude value and on/off state comprises the on/off state.

23 . The external control device of claim 22 , wherein the on/off state comprises a polarity.

24 . The external control device of claim 22 , wherein the display screen is configured for displaying a on/off adjustment control, and the user input comprises actuating the on/off adjustment control to chance the on/off state.

25 . The external control device of claim 16 , wherein the user input comprises using a pointing device, and wherein the controller/processor is configured for copying/cutting the at least one stimulation parameter value from the one electrode in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation with the pointing device.

26 . The external control device of claim 25 , wherein the controller/processor is configured for pasting the at least one stimulation parameter value by dragging and dropping the graphical electrode representation into the other graphical electrode representation using the pointing device.

27 . The external control device of claim 25 , wherein the controller/processor is configured for pasting the at least one stimulation parameter value by dragging an edge of the graphical electrode representation using the pointing device to include a graphical representation of the other electrode.

28 . The external control device of claim 25 , wherein the controller/processor is configured for copying/cutting the at least one stimulation parameter value in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation of the electrode with the pointing device to display a menu, and selecting a copy/cut command from the menu, and wherein the at least one stimulation parameter value is pasted in response to pointing at the graphical electrode representation of the other electrode with the pointing device to display a menu, and selecting a paste command from the menu.

29 . The external control device of claim 16 , further comprising the electrodes.

30 . The external control device of claim 16 , further comprising a housing containing the user interface, controller/processor, and output circuitry.

Assignees

• Boston Scient Neuromodulation

Inventors

• Rao Prakash
• Yip Anita
• Kothandaraman Sridhar

Classifications

• A61N1/37264 Primary

  Changing the program; Upgrading firmware · CPC title

• A61N1/36185 Primary

  Selection of the electrode configuration · CPC title

• A61N1/37247

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