Abstract: An electrical stimulation system for use with a plurality of electrodes implanted within a tissue region comprises a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters, thereby injecting a charge into the tissue region, a control device configured for receiving user input to modify the set of stimulation parameters, and controller/processor circuitry configured for, in response to the user input computing a charge injection metric value as a function of a physical electrode parameter and an electrical source parameter for a first set of the electrodes, wherein the electrode set comprises at least two electrodes, comparing the computed charge injection metric value to a safety threshold value, and performing a corrective action based on the comparison.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method facilitates a cycle of generation, sharing, and refinement of volumes related to stimulation of anatomical tissue, such as brain or spinal cord stimulation. Such volumes can include target stimulation volumes, side effect volumes, and volumes of estimated activation. A computer system and method also facilitates analysis of groups of volumes, including analysis of differences and/or commonalities between different groups of volumes.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for delivering electrostimulation to specific tissue of a patient. An example of a system can receive a three-dimensional voxelized model representing a plurality of regions each specified as a target region or an avoidance region. The system includes control circuitry to determine a metric value using the voxelized model. The metric value indicates a clinical effect of electrostimulation on the plurality of regions according to a stimulation current and a current fractionalization. The control circuitry can determine a desired stimulation current that results in a first metric value satisfying a clinical effect condition. The system can generate a stimulation configuration including the desired stimulation current and the current fractionalization corresponding to the first metric value, and deliver tissue stimulation according to the stimulation configuration.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing a therapeutic pseudo-constant DC current in an implantable stimulator using pulses whose positive and negative phases are not charge balanced. Such charge imbalanced pulses act to charge any capacitance in the current path between selected electrode nodes, such as the DC-blocking capacitors and/or any inherent capacitance such as those present at the electrode/tissue interface. These charged capacitances act during quiet periods between the pulses to induce a pseudo-constant DC current. Beneficially, these DC currents can be small enough to stay within charge density limits and hence not corrode the electrode or cause tissue damage, and further can be controlled to stay within such limits or for other reasons. Graphical user interface (GUI) aspects for generating the charge imbalanced pulses and for determining and/or controlling the pseudo-constant DC current are also provided.

Abstract: An example of a system for programming a neurostimulator may include a storage device and a pattern generator. The storage device may store a pattern library and one or more neuronal network models. The pattern library may include fields and waveforms of neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may each be configured to allow for evaluating effects of one or more fields in combination with one or more waveforms in treating one or more indications for neuromodulation. The pattern generator may be configured to construct and approximately optimize a spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation and/or its building blocks for a specified range of varying conditions using at least one neuronal network model.

Abstract: An example of a system for delivering neurostimulation may include a display and an interface control circuit. The interface control circuit may be configured to define a stimulation waveform according to which the neurostimulation is delivered. The stimulation waveform is defined by waveform parameters including one or more user-adjustable parameters. The interface control circuit may include a parameter selector, an effect analyzer, and a parameter generator. The parameter selector may be configured to present values for each user-adjustable parameter on the display and allow the user to select a value for each user-adjustable parameter from the presented values. The effect analyzer may be configured to estimate an interactive effect of different stimuli of the neurostimulation. The parameter generator may be configured to select a rate rule based on the estimated interactive effect and to generate the values for each user-adjustable parameter according to the selected rate rule.

Abstract: An electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body that defines an alignment feature extending distally from a proximal end of the lead body and inwardly from an outer surface of the lead body. The lead also includes electrodes disposed along the distal portion of the lead body, segmented terminals disposed along the proximal portion of the lead and arranged in sets of segmented terminals, and lead conductors electrically coupling the electrodes to the terminals. Each set of segmented terminals includes at least two segmented terminals disposed in a circumferential arrangement at a same longitudinal position of the lead. A system can include the lead and a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead. The connector can include an alignment protuberance extending into a connector lumen and configured to be received into the alignment groove of the lead to align the lead with the connector.

Abstract: An example of a system for delivering neurostimulation using a stimulation device and controlling the delivery of the neurostimulation may include a programming control circuit and a stimulation control circuit. The programming control circuit may be configured to program the stimulation device for delivering the neurostimulation according to a pattern of neurostimulation pulses defined by one or more stimulation waveforms. The stimulation control circuit may be configured to determine the pattern of neurostimulation pulses with the one or more stimulation waveforms constrained by one or more thresholds, and may include threshold circuitry that may be configured to receive one or more known values of the one or more thresholds and to determine needed values of the one or more thresholds by executing an algorithm allowing for prediction of the needed values of the one or more thresholds based on the one or more known values.

Abstract: A computer implemented system and method facilitates a cycle of generation, sharing, and refinement of volumes related to stimulation of anatomical tissue, such as brain or spinal cord stimulation. Such volumes can include target stimulation volumes, side effect volumes, and volumes of estimated activation. A computer system and method also facilitates analysis of groups of volumes, including analysis of differences and/or commonalities between different groups of volumes.

Abstract: An electrical stimulation system for use with a plurality of electrodes implanted within a tissue region comprises a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters, thereby injecting a charge into the tissue region, a control device configured for receiving user input to modify the set of stimulation parameters, and controller/processor circuitry configured for, in response to the user input computing a charge injection metric value as a function of a physical electrode parameter and an electrical source parameter for a first set of the electrodes, wherein the electrode set comprises at least two electrodes, comparing the computed charge injection metric value to a safety threshold value, and performing a corrective action based on the comparison.

Abstract: An example of a system for programming a neurostimulator may include a storage device and a pattern generator. The storage device may store a pattern library and one or more neuronal network models. The pattern library may include fields and waveforms of neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may each be configured to allow for evaluating effects of one or more fields in combination with one or more waveforms in treating one or more indications for neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may include a first pain model configured to allow for optimization of neurostimulation using paresthesia, the second pain model configured to allow optimization of neurostimulation using anatomy. The pattern generator may be configured to construct and approximately optimize a spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation and/or its building blocks using at least one or more of the first pain model or the second pain model.

Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMD) such as those used in Deep Brain Stimulation application are commonly replaced when the device's useful life expires. At the time of replacement, the electrodes that were connected to the initial IMD are typically reused with the replacement IMD. It is desirable for the replacement IMD to utilize the stimulation parameters that were being utilized to provide stimulation in the initial IMD, but it is important that the electrodes be connected to the replacement IMD in a similar manner as they were connected to the initial IMD if stimulation parameters are reused. A connected electrode profile that includes measurements of electrical parameters associated with the electrodes can be generated in the initial IMD and the replacement IMD, and the profiles can be compared to determine whether the electrodes are connected in a similar manner in the replacement IMD as they were in the initial IMD.

Abstract: Incorrect connection or mapping of leads' proximal terminals to the ports of an Implantable Stimulator Device (ISD), such as an implantable pulse generator or an external trial stimulator, is a concern, and this disclosure is directed to use of measurement and identification algorithms to either determine that leads are properly connected to their assigned ISD ports, or to determine which leads are connected to the ports even if the leads are not preassigned to the ports. Particular focus is given in the disclosed technique to assessing leads that comprise larger number of electrodes than are supported at each port, and thus have more than one proximal terminal that connect to more than one port of the ISD.

Abstract: The types of electrode leads that are connected to an implantable medical device are determined based on electrical parameters that are measured at the electrodes that are positioned on the leads. The different types of known electrode leads have different physical electrode arrangements that impact the measured electrical parameters. Properties in the measured electrical parameters that are indicative of the physical arrangements of electrodes of known types of electrode leads are utilized to determine the types of leads that are connected to the implantable medical device.

Abstract: A system for programming electrical stimulation by a lead includes a processor coupled to a display. The processor presents an interface on the display with user-selectable controls to define stimulation fields and repeating stimulation patterns for delivering the stimulation fields temporally-coordinated with each other. The user-selectable controls include a field control to define the number of stimulation fields, a location control to define locations of the stimulation fields relative to the lead, a repetition control to define a repetition frequency of the stimulation patterns, and a temporal-adjustment control to define temporal adjustments of the stimulation fields.

Abstract: An example of a system for programming a neurostimulator may include a storage device and a pattern generator. The storage device may store a pattern library and one or more neuronal network models. The pattern library may include fields and waveforms of neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may each be configured to allow for evaluating effects of one or more fields in combination with one or more waveforms in treating one or more indications for neuromodulation. The pattern generator may be configured to construct and approximately optimize a spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation and/or its building blocks using at least one neuronal network model.

Abstract: An example of a system for programming a neurostimulator may include a storage device and a pattern generator. The storage device may store a pattern library and one or more neuronal network models. The pattern library may include fields and waveforms of neuromodulation. The one or more neuronal network models may each be configured to allow for evaluating effects of one or more fields in combination with one or more waveforms in treating one or more indications for neuromodulation. The pattern generator may be configured to construct and approximately optimize a spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation and/or its building blocks using at least one neuronal network model. The spatio-temporal pattern of neurostimulation may include a series of sub-patterns for treating an indication of the one or more indications for neuromodulation.

Abstract: Various manners are disclosed in which neurostimulation can be programmed to provide stimulation pulses designed to alter the level of synchronization in a target neural tissue, as is useful in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) therapy for example. Stimulation pulses are issued in pulse packets, with one or more variations added within or between pulse packets, such as variations in pulse width, amplitude, frequency, or shape. Such variations afford greater ability to differentially recruit sub-populations of neural tissue in both space and time. Such pulse packets may be issued from one or more electrodes, which pulse packets may or may not overlap in time.

Abstract: A system for estimating a volume of activation around an implanted electrical stimulation lead for a set of stimulation parameters includes a display; and a processor coupled to the display and configured to: receive a set of stimulation parameters including a stimulation amplitude and a selection of one of more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead for delivery of the stimulation amplitude; determine an estimate of the volume of activation based on the set of stimulation parameters using the stimulation amplitude and a database including a plurality of planar distributions of stimulation threshold values and a map relating the planar distributions to spatial locations based on the one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead selected for delivery of the stimulation amplitude; and output on the display a graphical representation of the estimate of the volume of activation.

Abstract: An electrical stimulation system for use with a plurality of electrodes implanted within a tissue region comprises a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters, thereby injecting a charge into the tissue region, a control device configured for receiving user input to modify the set of stimulation parameters, and controller/processor circuitry configured for, in response to the user input computing a charge injection metric value as a function of a physical electrode parameter and an electrical source parameter for a first set of the electrodes, wherein the electrode set comprises at least two electrodes, comparing the computed charge injection metric value to a safety threshold value, and performing a corrective action based on the comparison.