Automatic selection of lead configuration for a neural stimulation lead

Abstract

A neurostimulation system includes a neural stimulation lead having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a plurality of electrodes along the distal portion. The plurality of electrodes are configured for positioning proximate a portion of the autonomic nervous system. A neural stimulation circuit, coupled to the plurality of electrodes, delivers neural stimulation pulses to the plurality of electrodes. A processor and controller is configured to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver first neural stimulation pulses to each of a plurality of electrode configurations. Each electrode configuration includes one or more of the plurality of electrodes. The processor and controller is further configured to receive information related to motor fiber activity that is induced in response to delivery of the first neural stimulation pulses to each of the plurality of electrode configurations and to identify the electrode configurations that induce the motor fiber activity.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for use with a neural stimulation circuit operably connected to a plurality of electrodes configured to be positioned proximate to a neural target, the system comprising:
 a user interface including a display; and   a controller configured to operably connect to the neural stimulation circuit and the user interface, wherein the controller is configured to facilitate reducing a plurality of potential electrode combinations from the plurality of electrodes to a smaller subset of potential electrode combinations for further testing, wherein the controller is configured to:
 control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver a first plurality of neural stimulation pulses to a neural target through the plurality of potential electrode combinations; 
 receive information indicative of neural tissue capture; 
 use the received information indicative of neural tissue capture to group electrode combinations into the subset of potential electrode combinations; and 
 display the smaller subset of potential electrode combinations on the display. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive an input via the user interface indicative that the subset of potential electrode combinations has at least a minimum number of potential electrode combinations for further testing and then control the neural stimulation circuit to further test the subset of potential electrode combinations to further reduce the number of potential electrode combinations for delivering neurostimulation pulses to the neural target. 
     
     
         4 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the information indicative of neural tissue capture includes information indicative of a physiological activity. 
     
     
         5 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 4 , wherein the information indicative of a physiological activity includes undesirable physiological activity induced in response to delivery of the first plurality of neural stimulation pulses. 
     
     
         6 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to exclude electrode combinations associated with inducing the undesirable physiological activity from the subset of potential electrode combinations. 
     
     
         7 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 4 , wherein the physiological activity is associated with motor fiber activity. 
     
     
         8 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver a second plurality of neural stimulation pulses to the neural target to further test the subset of potential electrode combinations, and receive additional information related to physiological activity that is induced in response to delivery of the second plurality of neural stimulation pulses. 
     
     
         9 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of neural stimulation pulses are delivered at a higher pulse amplitude than the first plurality of neural stimulation pulses. 
     
     
         10 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of neural stimulation pulses are delivered at a plurality of different amplitudes. 
     
     
         11 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to prioritize the electrode combinations of the subset based on the additional information. 
     
     
         12 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver the first plurality of neural stimulation before the implantable neural stimulation device is fully implanted and to deliver the second plurality of neural stimulation after the implantable neural stimulation device is fully implanted. 
     
     
         13 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to prioritize electrode combinations of the subset that induce intended physiological activity based on a capture threshold and indicate the prioritization on the display. 
     
     
         14 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to control the neural stimulation circuit to deliver therapy through at least one electrode combination of the subset. 
     
     
         15 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is an external controller and is configured to communicate with the implantable neural stimulation device. 
     
     
         16 . The neurostimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is part of an implantable neural stimulation device. 
     
     
         17 . A method of automatic assessment of a plurality of electrodes operably connected to a neural stimulation circuit and configured to be positioned proximate to a neural target, the method comprising:
 facilitating a reduction in a plurality of potential electrode combinations from the plurality of electrodes to a smaller subset of potential electrode combinations for further testing, including:
 controlling the neural stimulation circuit to deliver a first plurality of neural stimulation pulses to the neural target through the plurality of potential electrode combinations; 
 receiving information indicative of neural tissue capture; 
 using the received information indicative of neural tissue capture to group electrode combinations into the subset of potential electrode combinations; and 
 displaying the smaller subset of potential electrode combinations on the display. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving an input via the user interface indicative that the subset of potential electrode combinations has at least a minimum number of potential electrode combinations for further testing and then controlling the neural stimulation circuit to further test the subset of potential electrode combinations to further reduce the number of potential electrode combinations for delivering neurostimulation pulses to the neural target. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the information indicative of neural tissue capture includes information indicative of a physiological activity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the information indicative of a physiological activity includes undesirable physiological activity induced in response to delivery of the first plurality of neural stimulation pulses. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising excluding electrode combinations associated with inducing the undesirable physiological activity from the subset of potential electrode combinations.