Medtronic, Inc.

Jeffry C Palm

John W Forsberg

Matthew J Michaels

Steven T Deininger

Raymond F McMullen

Kevin J Kelly

Jane L Kohnen

Mark G Wosmek

Roger L Struve

The invention is directed to a trial stimulation system and, more particularly, an indicator device within the trial stimulation system that measures and indicates energy amplitude levels for electrical stimulation therapy delivered to a patient. Specifically, the indicator device simultaneously indicates energy amplitude levels, such as electrical voltage, current, power, and electrical charge, as well as the polarity for each electrode in real-time without affecting the therapy delivered to the patient. For example, the indicator device may activate a number of lights in an array of lights in proportion to the measured energy amplitude level for each electrode and may activate a green LED or a red LED when a corresponding electrodes acts as a source or sink, respectively. In this manner, the indicator device allows a clinician to visualize the electrical fields produced by each electrode and, therefore, may assist stimulation steering, trouble shooting, and lead placement.

External presentation of electrical stimulation parameters

A trial stimulation system and, more particularly, an indicator device within the trial stimulation system that measures and indicates energy amplitude levels for electrical stimulation therapy delivered to a patient. Specifically, the indicator device simultaneously indicates energy amplitude levels, such as electrical voltage, current, power, and electrical charge, as well as the polarity for each electrode in real-time without affecting the therapy delivered to the patient. For example, the indicator device may activate a number of lights in an array of lights in proportion to the measured energy amplitude level for each electrode and may activate a green LED or a red LED when a corresponding electrodes acts as a source or sink, respectively. In this manner, the indicator device allows a clinician to visualize the electrical fields produced by each electrode and, therefore, may assist stimulation steering, trouble shooting, and lead placement.

An external indicator device presents parameters associated with stimulation therapy generated by a pulse generator, which may be associated with an external or implantable stimulation device. In this manner, the external indicator device enables a user to visualize stimulation parameters without actually delivering stimulation therapy to a patient via implanted electrodes. The electrical stimulation parameters may include electrical amplitude levels, pulse widths, pulse rates, electrode combinations, and electrode polarities for stimulation generated by the pulse generator.

A medical connector and method of using the connector to connect separate sections of medical tubing, especially tubing which is to be implanted in the human body. The connector includes generally cylindrical first and second end portions, the diameter of which are smaller than an enlarged middle portion. The end portions are sized to fit within the lumens of the tubing sections. The connection is made by grasping the enlarged middle portion and slipping each end portion into a respective tubing section until the tubing sections abut tubing stop surfaces located at each end of the enlarged middle portion. The enlarged middle portion makes the connector easy to handle and the tubing stop sections provide for accurate alignment of the connector between the tubing sections.

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Coon Rapids, MN, United States of America

Jeffry C Palm