Patent ID: 8918185

Claim:
A system for an electrical neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising: telemetry circuitry configured for communicating with the electrical neurostimulator; and a controller/processor configured for defining an immediate electrode configuration, conveying electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the immediate electrode configuration, defining a final electrode configuration, defining a series of intermediate electrode configurations using a heuristic set of rules based on the immediate electrode configuration and the final electrode configuration, instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the series of intermediate electrode configurations, and instructing the electrical neurostimulator to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the subsequent electrode configuration; wherein the heuristic set of rules comprises: determining whether there exists a first electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the first electrode pairing is determined to exist; determining whether there exists a second electrode pairing having the cathodic current increase transition and the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition, and shifting cathodic current from the electrode having the cathodic current decrease/anodic current increase transition to the electrode having the cathodic current increase transition if the second electrode pairing is determined to exist; determining whether there exists a third electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the third electrode pairing is determined to exist; and determining whether there exists a fourth electrode pairing having the anodic current increase transition and the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition, and shifting anodic current from the electrode having the anodic current decrease/cathodic current increase transition to the electrode having the anodic current increase transition if the fourth electrode pairing is determined to exist.