Patent ID: 8914128
Filing Date: 2014-12-16
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method for efficiently identifying, from among a plurality of possible neurostimulation parameter sets, a preferred neurostimulation parameter set that an implantable neurostimulation device can use to treat a targeted pain of a patient, wherein each neurostimulation parameter set defines electrode parameters and neurostimulation signal parameters, wherein the electrode parameters of each neurostimulation parameter set define which electrodes are used to provide neurostimulation, and wherein the neurostimulation signal parameters of each neurostimulation parameter set define a pulse width and a pulse amplitude, the method comprising: (a) testing on the patient a plurality of different initial neurostimulation parameter sets, wherein each of the initial tested neurostimulation parameter sets defines an electrode configuration that differs from the other initial tested neurostimulation parameter sets, and wherein all of the initial tested neurostimulation parameter sets comprise a same starting value for pulse amplitude and a same starting value for pulse width; (b) when none of the neurostimulation parameter sets tested at step (a) treat the targeted pain, (b.1) increasing the value of the pulse amplitude by a same amount for each of the plurality of neurostimulation parameter sets, (b.2) retesting on the patient the plurality of neurostimulation parameter sets with the same increased value for the pulse amplitude for each of the retested neurostimulation parameter sets, and (b.3) wherein steps (b.1) and (b.2) are repeated until at least one neurostimulation parameter set that treats the targeted pain is identified, wherein each time step (b.1) is repeated the value for the pulse amplitude is again increased; and (c) when more than one of the neurostimulation parameter sets tested at step (a) or (b) treated the targeted pain, (c.1) reducing the value of the pulse width by a same amount for each of the plurality of neurostimulation parameter sets tested at step (a) or (b) that treated the targeted pain, wherein the same amount by which the value of the pulse width is reduced is based on the number of neurostimulation parameter sets that treated the targeted pain at the most recently tested value of the pulse width; (c.2) retesting on the patient the plurality of neurostimulation parameter sets that treated the targeted pain, with the same reduced value for the pulse width for each of the retested neurostimulation parameter sets, to thereby identify those neurostimulation parameter sets that treat the targeted pain with the reduced pulse width, and (c.3) wherein steps (c.1) and (c.2) are repeated until only one neurostimulation parameter set that treats the targeted pain is identified, wherein each time step (c.1) is repeated the value for the pulse width is again decreased.