Abstract: A computer assisted programming method includes ramping up a stimulation current for a plurality of contacts on a lead. Patient feedback is received while the stimulation current is being ramped up. Patient feedback indicates that the patient is beginning to feel stimulation. Based on the patient feedback, amplitude of the stimulation current that resulted in the patient feedback is recorded, and contacts are divided into groups. The contacts are activated one group at a time to the recorded amplitude. For each activated group of contacts, whether the patient can feel stimulation is determined. Thereafter, the target group that caused the patient to feel stimulation is then sub-divided into sub-groups. This process repeats a plurality of cycles until one or more contacts that caused the patient to feel stimulation are identified. The recorded amplitude is assigned as a perception threshold for the identified one or more contacts.

Abstract: A system for operating a medical device, the system comprises a medical device associated with a machine-readable representation of data and a medical programmer. The medical programmer includes a sensor configured to detect the machine-readable representation of data and a display configured to graphically display a digital image of the medical device associated with the machine-readable representation of data.

Abstract: An electrically identifiable medical electrode lead. The lead includes a flexible lead body having a distal end and a connector end. The lead also includes a plurality of electrodes disposed near the distal end of the flexible lead body. The lead further includes a connector disposed at the connector end of the flexible lead body, the connector including a plurality of contacts. The lead additionally includes a plurality of conductors supported by and passing through the flexible lead body, the plurality of conductors including electrical conductors that provide paths for electrical current from the connector to the plurality of electrodes. Finally, the lead includes a memory circuit supported by the flexible lead body and being in electrical communication with a contact of the plurality of contacts in the connector.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a medical system. The medical system includes a medical device configured to deliver a medical therapy to a patient, a clinician programmer configured to program the medical device, and a manufacturing database configured to store and maintain an electronic inventory of a plurality of types of medical devices. The clinician programmer is configured to acquire a visual representation of the medical device, generate an electronic ticket identifying the medical device based on the visual representation, and send the electronic ticket to the manufacturing database. The manufacturing database is configured to receive the electronic ticket from the clinician programmer and perform at least one of the following tasks in response to the received electronic ticket: updating the electronic inventory, analyzing a usage trend of the medical device, predicting a potential shortage of the medical device, and suggesting a production schedule for the medical device.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of providing graphical representations of medical devices and connections between the medical devices. A graphical representation of a lead is displayed. The lead is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via one or more of a plurality of electrode contacts. A graphical representation of one of: an implantable pulse generator (IPG) or a lead connector block is displayed. The IPG and the lead connector block are each configured for coupling with the lead. In response to a user input, a graphical representation of a connection is generated. The connection is between the lead and one of: the IPG or the lead connector block. An actual connection between the lead and one of: the IPG or the lead connector block is monitored. A status of the actual connection between the lead and one of: the IPG or the connector block is then reported.

Abstract: A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of determining electrode configuration and positioning for neurostimulation. A virtual representation of an implant lead is provided. The implant lead is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via one or more of a plurality of electrodes located on the implant lead. A predefined electrode activation pattern is provided. The electrode activation pattern identifies a plurality of subsets of the electrodes that can be activated one subset at a time. The electrodes in each subset are programmed with their respective electrical stimulation parameters. The subsets of the electrodes are activated one subset at a time. Each activated subset of electrodes delivers electrical stimulation to a different region of a spine of the patient.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of facilitating visualization in a medical context. The method includes displaying a virtual reality representation of a medical device via a touch-sensitive user interface. The virtual reality representation of the medical device includes a movable and rotatable three-dimensional model of the medical device. The method includes displaying a virtual reality representation of an anatomical environment of a patient via a touch-sensitive user interface. The virtual reality representation of the anatomical environment is zoomable and scalable. The method includes customizing the virtual reality representation of the medical device. The method includes positioning the customized virtual reality representation of the medical device in an appropriate location of the virtual reality representation of the anatomical environment. The customizing and the positioning are performed in response to user input.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of setting stimulation parameters for neurostimulation. A plurality of stimulation parameters available for bracketing is displayed. The stimulation parameters are selected from the group consisting of: stimulation current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and contact location. Thereafter, in response to an input from a user, at least a subset of the stimulation parameters is selected for bracketing. A respective initial value is then obtained for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset. Thereafter, a bracketing process is used to generate a plurality of bracketed values for each of the stimulation parameters in the selected subset. The bracketed values are generated as a function of the initial value. A plurality of stimulation pulses is then delivered to a patient through a neurostimulator that is automatically programmed with a different combination of the bracketed values for the stimulation parameters for each stimulation pulse.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of entering data in a portable electronic device. A request is received from a healthcare professional to perform data entry in an input field. The request is received via a touch-sensitive user interface of the portable electronic device. In response to the request, a plurality of predefined suggestions is displayed as candidates for the data entry. A selection of one of the plurality of predefined suggestions by the healthcare professional is then detected. Thereafter, the selected predefined suggestion is automatically entered as the data entry in the input field.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a medical system. The medical system includes a medical device configured to deliver a medical therapy to a patient and store an electronic patient record that includes visual identification information of the patient. The medical system includes a clinician programmer configured to program the medical device. The clinician programmer includes a display screen. The clinician programmer includes a transceiver configured to conduct electronic communication with external devices. The clinician programmer includes a memory storage configured to store machine-readable code. The clinician programmer includes a computer processor configured to execute the machine-readable code to: establish an electronic communication with the medical device via the transceiver; and display the electronic patient record, including the visual identification information of the patient, on the display screen after the electronic communication has been established.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of providing graphical representations of medical devices and connections between the medical devices. A graphical representation of a lead is displayed. The lead is configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient via one or more of a plurality of electrode contacts. A graphical representation of one of: an implantable pulse generator (IPG) or a lead connector block is displayed. The IPG and the lead connector block are each configured for coupling with the lead. In response to a user input, a graphical representation of a connection is generated. The connection is between the lead and one of: the IPG or the lead connector block. An actual connection between the lead and one of: the IPG or the lead connector block is monitored. A status of the actual connection between the lead and one of: the IPG or the connector block is then reported.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of simulating a pulse generator on a portable electronic device. A graphical user interface is provided via a touch-sensitive screen of the portable electronic device. The graphical user interface is configured to facilitate interactive user engagements with the portable electronic device. A pulse generator simulator is launched on the portable electronic device in response to a request from the user. The pulse generator simulator provides a virtual pulse generator that duplicates a plurality of functionalities and features of an actual pulse generator. The virtual pulse generator is programmed based on user input received via the graphical user interface. One or more statuses of the virtual pulse generator are then displayed via the graphical user interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of providing three-dimensional imaging in a medical environment. A first three-dimensional (3D) model is provided. The first 3D model represents a part of human anatomy or an implantable medical device. The first 3D model contains a plurality of vertices. A second 3D model is then generated by performing a vertex-reduction process to the first 3D model. The second 3D model has fewer vertices than the first 3D model. A shading texture is applied to the second 3D model to obtain a texture-shaded second 3D model. The applying the shading texture is performed using the first 3D model as a reference so that the texture-shaded second 3D model resembles the first 3D model.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves an electronic device. The electronic device is configured to perform evaluations on a patient user for medical purposes. The electronic device includes a touchscreen display configured to receive input from the user. The electronic device includes a memory storage component configured to store programming code. The electronic device includes a computer processor configured to execute the programming code to perform an evaluation of the user's mental and physical abilities. The evaluation includes prompting the user to perform a plurality of tasks. At least one of the tasks prompts the user to manipulate one or more graphical models shown on the touchscreen display according to predefined instructions. The evaluation includes detecting, via the touchscreen display, responses from the user for the tasks. The evaluation includes determining, based on the detected responses, whether the user is mentally and physically fit to provide reliable feedback to medical personnel.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of determining stimulation lead placements for a healthcare professional with respect to an implant of a neurostimulator device in a target patient. A human body model is provided. A pain map is generated over the human body model in response to user input. The pain map visually represents body regions of the target patient that are experiencing pain. A dermatome map is provided. The dermatome map includes a visual correlation between regions of a human body and segments of a spinal cord. The pain map is compared with the dermatome map. Recommendations regarding the implant of the neurostimulator device are displayed in response to the comparing.

Abstract: A system for operating a medical device, the system comprises a medical device associated with a machine-readable representation of data and a medical programmer. The medical programmer includes a sensor configured to detect the machine-readable representation of data and a display configured to graphically display a digital image of the medical device associated with the machine-readable representation of data.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a method of data-reducing and storing a sensation map. A sensation map associated with a patient is provided. The sensation map includes a graphical depiction of a sensation experienced by the patient. The sensation may be pain or paresthesia experienced by the patient in response to an electrical stimulation therapy. A data file is generated. The data file has a data size less than a data size of the sensation map. The data file contains digital information allowing a reconstruction of the sensation map. Electronic communication is then established with an implanted medical device located inside the patient's body. Thereafter, the data file is sent to the implanted medical device for storage. The stored data files are retrievable by another clinician programmer later to reconstruct the sensation map.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves an electronic apparatus for programming an implantable medical device to provide a stimulation therapy for a patient. The electronic apparatus includes a user interface configured to communicate with a user, a memory storage configured to store executable instructions, and a computer processor configured to execute the instructions to implement a plurality of safety controls.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a medical system that includes one or more implantable medical devices configured to deliver a medical therapy to a patient. The medical system also includes a portable electronic device on which a touch-sensitive user interface is implemented. The user interface is configured to provide a visual representation of the medical therapy through a hierarchy. The hierarchy includes a lower level representation of the medical therapy that corresponds to a stimulation program that includes a plurality of configurable stimulation parameters. The hierarchy includes a middle level representation of the medical therapy that corresponds to a stimulation program-set that includes a plurality of different stimulation programs. The hierarchy includes an upper level representation of the medical therapy that corresponds to a scrollable collection of stimulation program-sets that are represented by a plurality of digital cards, respectively.