Medtronic, Inc.

Andrew H Houchins

Steven M Goetz

Jeffrey T Keacher

Gary William King

Kenneth Timothy Heruth

Roy L Testerman

Joseph J Nolan

Nathan Andrew Torgerson

Michael Thomas Lee

Jordan J Greenberg

Touby Austin Drew

Donald R Johnson

Theodore J Stone

Mark S Lent

Paul W Wacnik

Eric J Panken

Scott R Stanslaski

Christopher L Pulliam

Timothy R Abraham

Shyam Gokaldas

Earle Timothy Roberts

Christopher M Arnett

Thomas L Chouinard

Evan Schnell

Lukas Valine

Alicia Weller Thompson

Caleb C Zarns

Ilan D Gordon

Karan Chitkara

Rucha Gokul G Samant

Hijaz M Haris

Ankush Thakur

Brady N Fetting

Dennis M Skelton

Todd V Smith

Wende L Dewing

Kevin M Johnson

Susan Heilman Kilbane

Susan E Heilman Kilbane

Kevin C Johnson

Devices, systems, and techniques are disclosed for managing electrical stimulation therapy and/or sensing of physiological signals such as brain signals. For example, a system may assist a clinician in identifying one or more electrode combinations for sensing a brain signal. In another example, a user interface may display brain signal information and values of a stimulation parameter at least partially defining electrical stimulation delivered to a patient when the brain signal information was sensed.

Brain stimulation and sensing

Peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) may be controlled based on detected physiological effects of the PNFS, which may be an efferent response to the PNFS. In some examples, a closed-loop therapy system may include a sensing module that senses a physiological parameter of the patient, which may be indicative of the patient's response to the PNFS. Based on a signal generated by the sensing module, the PNFS may be activated, deactivated or modified. Example physiological parameters of the patient include heart rate, respiratory rate, electrodermal activity, muscle activity, blood flow rate, sweat gland activity, pilomotor reflex, or thermal activity of the patient's body. In some examples, a patient pain state may be detected based on a signal generated by the sensing module, and therapy may be controlled based on the detection of the pain state.

Peripheral nerve field stimulation control

Display screen or portion thereof with graphical user interface

The disclosure provides techniques for parameter-directed shifting of electrical stimulation electrode combinations. An external programmer permits a user to shift electrode combinations, e.g., along the length of a lead or leads. The external programmer accepts shift input and causes an electrical stimulator to shift electrode combinations as indicated by the input. Different sets of electrodes may have different electrode counts. For example, an array of electrodes carried by one lead may have a greater number of electrodes than an array of electrodes carried on another lead. The disclosure provides techniques for shifting electrode combinations among leads with different electrode counts. For example, an external programmer may execute shifts in a series of shift operations, where the number of shift operations along the length of a lead having a greater electrode count is greater than the number of shift steps along the length of a lead having a lesser electrode count.

Shifting of electrical stimulation electrode combinations among differently sized electrode arrays

Techniques for providing an indication of coupling between medical devices are disclosed. For example, when a programming device and a telemetry module are coupled, the telemetry module provides a first indication, and the programming device provides a second indication substantially similar to the first indication. The indications may be, for example, colors, and different indications may signify communication with different implantable medical devices, programming different therapies, or use of different applications of the programming device.

Indication of coupling between medical devices

A therapy program for peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) may be selected based on user input indicating a desired therapeutic effect for a user-specified region in which a patient feels pain. In other examples, PNFS may be programmed based on input from a user selecting at least one region from among a plurality of regions in which the patient experiences pain. In addition, the PNFS may be programmed based on user input defining an aspect of PNFS for the selected region, such as a relative intensity of PNFS delivered to at least two selected regions, a balance of PNFS between at least two regions, a desired shift in PNFS from a first region to a second region, or an extent to which a first stimulation field within a first region overlaps with a second stimulation field in a second region.

Programming techniques for peripheral nerve field stimulation

Peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) delivered by medical device to a patient may be programmed by specifying one or more characteristics of a stimulation field generated by the IMD to provide the PNFS. The characteristics of the stimulation field may include, for example, a direction of stimulation within the field, a breadth of the stimulation field, a focus of stimulation within the stimulation field, a depth of the stimulation field relative to a reference point, such as the epidermis of the patient, or a nerve fiber diameter selection.

A programming system for an electronic medical device (EMD) is described. The programming system, as described in this disclosure, comprises a host computer, such as a general purpose computer in an in-clinic computer network, executing a software platform that provides an operating environment with which a user can interact to program an EMD. The software platform invokes monitoring software that ensures that the host computer satisfies criteria for safe operation of the operating environment, e.g., ensures that the host computer meets the minimum operating conditions required for reliable operation of the operating environment. In particular, the monitoring software may monitor system faults that occur during operation, as well as ensure that criteria for safe operation are satisfied prior to initiating the operating environment.

Operating environment monitor for medical device programming

The disclosure is directed to techniques for shifting between two electrode combinations. An amplitude of a first electrode combination is incrementally decreased while an amplitude of a second, or subsequent, electrode combination is concurrently incrementally increased. Alternatively, an amplitude of the first electrode combination is maintained at a target amplitude level while the amplitude of the second electrode combination is incrementally increased. The stimulation pulses of the electrode combinations are delivered to the patient interleaved in time. In this manner, the invention provides for a smooth, gradual shift from a first electrode combination to a second electrode combination, allowing the patient to maintain a continual perception of stimulation. The shifting techniques described herein may be used during programming to shift between different electrode combinations to find an efficacious electrode combination. Additionally, the techniques may be used for shifting between different electrode combinations associated with different stimulation programs or program sets.

Shifting between electrode combinations in electrical stimulation device

Growing community of inventors

Lino Lakes, MN, United States of America

Andrew H Houchins