External Device for Determining an Optimal Implantable Medical Device for a Patient Using Information Determined During an External Trial Stimulation Phase

Abstract

An external controller is disclosed for communicating with an external trial stimulator (ETS) for an implantable medical device. The external controller is programmed with a battery algorithm able to assist a clinician in choosing a suitable implant for the patient based on battery performance parameters estimated for a number of implants during an external trial stimulation phase that precedes implantation of the implant. The algorithm is particularly useful in assisting the clinician in choosing between a rechargeable-battery implant or a primary-battery implant for the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An external device useable in an implantable medical device (IMD) system, comprising:
 control circuitry programmed with an algorithm, the control circuitry comprising an stimulation program,   wherein the algorithm is configured when executed to determine at least one battery performance parameter for each of a plurality of battery-powered IMDs in accordance with the stimulation program.   
     
     
         2 . The external device of  claim 1 , further comprising transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
         3 . The external device of  claim 2 , wherein the transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit the stimulation program to an external trial stimulator. 
     
     
         4 . The external device of  claim 2 , wherein the transceiver circuitry is configured to receive the stimulation program from an external trial stimulator. 
     
     
         5 . The external device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the algorithm is further configured to indicate the at least one battery performance parameter for each of the plurality of battery-powered IMDs to a user via the user interface. 
     
     
         6 . The external device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the algorithm is executable by a user via the user interface. 
     
     
         7 . The external device of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the algorithm is further configured to determine and indicate via the user interface a best one of the plurality of battery-powered IMDs for implantation in the patient in accordance with the battery performance parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The external device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery-powered IMDs comprise at least one IMD having a rechargeable battery, and at least one IMD having a primary battery. 
     
     
         9 . The external device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one battery performance parameter for the at least one IMD having a primary battery comprises information indicative of an estimated lifetime of the primary battery, and wherein the at least one battery performance parameter for the at least one IMD having a rechargeable battery comprises information indicative of an estimated recharging performance of the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         10 . The external device of  claim 9 , wherein the estimated recharging performance comprises an estimated charging frequency and an estimated charging duration. 
     
     
         11 . The external device of  claim 1 , wherein the algorithm is further configured to determine from the stimulation program an expected current draw, and wherein the algorithm is configured to determine the at least one battery performance parameter for each of the plurality of battery-powered IMDs in accordance with the expected current draw and information for each of the plurality of battery-powered IMDs. 
     
     
         12 . The external device of  claim 1 , wherein the algorithm is further configured to determine from the stimulation program an expected current draw for each of the plurality of battery-powered IMDs, and wherein the algorithm is configured to determine the at least one battery performance parameter for each of the plurality of battery-powered IMDs in accordance with the expected current draw for that battery-powered IMD and information for that battery-powered IMDs. 
     
     
         13 . The external device of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation program comprises one or more electrodes selected for stimulation, whether selected electrodes are anodes or cathodes, the magnitude of the stimulation, the frequency of the stimulation, and the duration of the stimulation. 
     
     
         14 . An external device useable in an implantable medical device (IMD) system, comprising:
 control circuitry programmed with an algorithm, the control circuitry comprising an stimulation program,   wherein the algorithm is configured when executed to determine at least one first battery performance parameter for a first IMD having a primary battery and at least one second battery performance parameter for a second IMD having a rechargeable battery, wherein the at least one first battery performance parameter and the at least one second battery performance parameter are determined in accordance with the stimulation program.   
     
     
         15 . The external device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one first battery performance parameter comprises information indicative of an estimated lifetime of the primary battery, and wherein the at least one second battery performance parameter comprises information indicative of an estimated recharging performance of the rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         16 . The external device of  claim 15 , wherein the estimated recharging performance comprises an estimated charging frequency and an estimated charging duration. 
     
     
         17 . The external device of  claim 14 , further comprising transceiver circuitry. 
     
     
         18 . The external device of  claim 17 , wherein the transceiver circuitry is configured to transmit the stimulation program to an external trial stimulator, or to receive the stimulation program from an external trial stimulator, or both. 
     
     
         19 . The external device of  claim 14 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the algorithm is executable by a user via the user interface. 
     
     
         20 . The external device of  claim 14 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the algorithm is further configured when executed indicate on the user interface the at least one first battery performance parameter and the at least one second battery performance parameter. 
     
     
         21 . The external device of  claim 14 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the algorithm is further configured to determine and indicate via the user interface a best of the first or second IMD for implantation in the patient in accordance with the at least one first battery performance parameter and the at least one second battery performance parameter. 
     
     
         22 . The external device of  claim 14 , wherein the algorithm is further configured to determine from the stimulation program an expected current draw, and wherein the algorithm is configured to determine the at least one first battery performance parameter and the at least one second battery performance parameter in accordance with the expected current draw. 
     
     
         23 . The external device of  claim 14 , wherein the algorithm is further configured to determine from the stimulation program a first expected current draw for the first IMD and a second expected current draw for the second IMD, and wherein the algorithm is configured to determine the at least one first battery performance parameter in accordance with the first expected current draw, and wherein the algorithm is configured to determine the at least one second battery performance parameter in accordance with the second expected current draw. 
     
     
         24 . The external device of  claim 14 , wherein the stimulation program comprises one or more electrodes selected for stimulation, whether selected electrodes are anodes or cathodes, the magnitude of the stimulation, the frequency of the stimulation, and the duration of the stimulation.