Techniques for current steering directional programming in a neurostimulation system

Abstract

A neurostimulation system comprises at least one neurostimulation lead configured for being implanted within tissue. The neurostimulation lead(s) carries a plurality of electrodes capable of being arranged in a two-dimensional pattern. The neurostimulation system further comprises a neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the electrodes to create a volume of activation. The neurostimulation system further comprises an external control device configured for prompting the neurostimulator to deliver the electrical stimulation energy to the electrodes in a manner that gradually translates the volume of activation in a specific direction, and for adjusting the speed at which the volume of activation translates.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system, comprising an external control device for use with a two-dimensional array of electrodes implanted within tissue and a neurostimulator capable of delivering electrical stimulation energy to the electrodes to create a volume of activation, wherein the external control device includes:
 a user interface including a current steering direction control element and a current steering speed control element;   a controller processor configured for generating a series of different combinations of the electrodes in a manner that the volume of activation gradually translates in a specific direction according to the current steering direction control element when the electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the different electrode combinations, and in response to actuation of the speed control element, modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to adjust the speed at which the volume of activation translates; and   an output circuitry configured for transmitting the different electrode combinations to the neurostimulator.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface further includes a current steering initiation control element and a current steering direction control element, and the controller/processor is configured for, in response to actuation of the initiation control element, generating the series of different electrode combinations in a manner that the volume of activation gradually translates in a specific direction when the electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the different electrode combinations, and in response to actuation of the direction control element, defining the specific direction in which the volume of activation is translated. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a display screen configured for displaying the speed control element as a graphical element configured for being actuated by a pointing element. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the different electrode combinations are different fractionalized electrode combinations. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a display screen configured for displaying the volume of activation relative to the electrode array, and the controller/processor is configured for estimating the volume of activation based on the different electrode combinations. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller/processor is configured for translating an ideal multipole relative to the electrode array, and the different electrode combinations emulate the translation of the ideal multipole. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the speed control element has an acceleration sub-element and a deceleration sub-element, and the controller/processor is configured for, in response to actuation of the acceleration sub-element, modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to increase the speed at which the volume of activation translates, and in response to actuation of the deceleration sub-element, modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to decrease the speed at which the volume of activation translates. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the user interface further includes a current steering time control element, and the controller/processor is configured for, in response to actuation of the time control element, generating the series of different combinations of the electrodes for a specified time period, such that the translation of the volume of activation ceases when the time period has elapsed. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the output circuitry comprises telemetry circuity 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a housing containing the user interface, controller/processor, and output circuitry, 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 at least one neurostimulation lead configured for being implanted within tissue, the at least one neurostimulation lead carrying the two-dimensional array of electrodes; and   the neurostimulator configured for delivering electrical stimulation energy to the electrodes to create a volume of activation.   
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 generating a series of different electrode combinations for use by a neurostimulator in delivering electrical stimulation energy to create a volume of activation within tissue, wherein the series of different electrode combinations is generated in a manner that the volume of activation gradually translates in a specific direction when the electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the different electrode combinations;   responding to actuation of a speed control element on a user interface by modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to adjust a speed at which the volume of activation translates; and   transmitting the different electrode combinations to the neurostimulator.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising responding to actuation of an initiation control element on the user interface by generating the series of different electrode combinations in a manner that the volume of activation gradually translates in a specific direction when the electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the different electrode combinations, and responding to actuation of a direction control element on the user interface by defining the specific direction in which the volume of activation is translated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying the speed control on the user interface as a graphical element configured for being actuated by a pointing element. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising estimating the volume of activation based on the different electrode combinations using the controller/processor, and displaying the volume of activation relative to the electrode array. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising translating an ideal multipole relative to the electrode array, wherein the different electrode combinations emulate the translation of the ideal multipole. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 generate a series of different electrode combinations for use by a neurostimulator in delivering electrical stimulation energy to create a volume of activation within tissue, wherein the series of different electrode combinations is generated in a manner that the volume of activation gradually translates in a specific direction when the electrical stimulation energy is delivered to the different electrode combinations;   responding to actuation of a speed control element on a user interface by modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to adjust a speed at which the volume of activation translates; and   transmit the different electrode combinations to the neurostimulator.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the speed control element has an acceleration sub-element and a deceleration sub-element, and the instructions cause the machine to respond to actuation of the acceleration sub-element by modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to increase the speed at which the volume of activation translates, and respond to actuation of the deceleration sub-element by modifying the manner in which the electrode combinations are generated to decrease the speed at which the volume of activation translates. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising respond to actuation of a time control element on the user interface by generating the series of different combinations of the electrodes for a specified time period, such that the translation of the volume of activation ceases when the time period has elapsed. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the different electrode combinations are different fractionalized electrode combinations.