Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection

Abstract

Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving a first input corresponding to a location of a signal delivery device implanted in a patient, establishing a positional relationship between the signal delivery device and an anatomical feature of the patient, receiving a second input corresponding to a medical indication of the patient, and, based at least in part on the positional relationship and the indication, automatically identifying a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which a pulsed electrical signal is delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A patient treatment system, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions that, when executed:
 receive an input corresponding to a location of a signal delivery device implanted in a patient, the signal delivery device including a plurality of contacts; 
 establish a positional relationship between the location of the signal delivery device and an anatomical feature of the patient; 
 identify one or more contacts of the plurality of contacts for delivering therapy to the patient, wherein the identified one or more contacts are located at a target vertebral level of the patient; and 
 automatically identify a signal delivery parameter value for a pulsed electrical signal that is to be delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device, wherein the signal delivery parameter value has a predetermined correlation with the positional relationship. 
   
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the predetermined correlation is further based at least in part on patient database information correlating signal delivery parameters and indications for other patients. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 44  wherein establishing the positional relationship includes establishing a positional relationship between the anatomical feature of the patient and one or more of the plurality of contacts. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the plurality of contacts is operable to deliver the pulsed electrical signal to the patient. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the identified one or more contacts have impedance values within a pre-established range. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the instructions, when executed, prevent one or more of the plurality of contacts from being used to deliver therapy to the patient, wherein the prevented one or more contacts have impedance values outside the pre-established range. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the instructions, when executed:
 receive a second input corresponding to an updated location of the signal delivery device; and 
 in response to the second input, automatically update the signal delivery parameter value. 
 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the instructions, when executed, receive a second input provided by a user and corresponding to a requested change in axial length of a computer-based image of the anatomical feature of the patient. 
     
     
         52 . A patient treatment system, comprising:
 an implantable signal generator;   an elongated signal delivery lead coupled to the implantable signal generator and positioned proximate to a patient's spinal cord, the lead including a plurality of contacts; and   a programmer in wireless communication with the implantable signal generator, the programmer having a computer-readable medium with instructions that, when executed:
 receive an input indicating a location of the lead; 
 establish a positional relationship between the lead and a vertebra of the patient; 
 identify one or more contacts of the plurality of contacts for delivering a pulsed electrical signal to the patient; 
 access an established database of patient information, wherein the database includes a predetermined correlation including a positional relationship for other patients; and 
 based at least in part on the predetermined correlation, automatically identify a value of a signal delivery parameter for a pulsed electrical signal to be delivered to the patient's spinal cord via at least one of the plurality of contacts. 
   
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the signal delivery parameter includes at least one of frequency, amplitude, or pulse width. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the instructions, when executed:
 receive a second input corresponding to an updated location of the lead; and 
 in response to the second input, automatically update the contact delivering the pulsed electrical signal to the patient's spinal cord. 
 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 54  wherein the instructions, when executed, automatically update the signal delivery parameter value, in response to the second input. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the predetermined correlation further includes a medical indication of the patient. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the identified one or more contacts have impedance values within a pre-established range. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the instructions, when executed, receive a second input provided by a user and corresponding to a requested change in axial length of a computer-based image of the vertebra. 
     
     
         59 . A patient treatment system, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions that, when executed:
 receive a first input indicating a location of a signal delivery device implanted in the patient, relative to at least one of the patient's vertebrae; 
 establish a positional relationship between the implanted signal delivery device and the at least one vertebra; 
 receive a second input provided by a user and corresponding to a requested change in axial length of a computer-based image of the at least one vertebra; 
 access a database of patient information correlating signal delivery parameters and the positional relationship for other patients; and 
 based at least in part on the positional relationship and the information contained in the database, automatically identify a signal delivery parameter for a pulsed electrical signal to be delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device. 
   
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 59  wherein the signal delivery parameter includes an identity of a contact to which the pulsed electrical signal is to be delivered, the contact being carried by the signal delivery device. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 59  wherein accessing the database includes accessing a correlation between the positional relationship and a vertebral level, and wherein automatically identifying a signal delivery parameter includes selecting a contact carried by the signal delivery device and positioned proximate to the vertebral lead. 
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61  wherein the selected contact is a contact closest to the vertebral level. 
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 59  wherein receiving the first input includes receiving an input provided by a user moving a computer-based image of the lead relative to a computer-based image of the at least one vertebra. 
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 59  wherein the instructions, when executed, direct delivery of the pulsed electrical signal in accordance with the signal delivery parameter, and wherein directing delivery of the pulsed electrical signal includes directing delivery of the pulsed electrical signal at a frequency in a frequency range of about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz. 
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 59  wherein the signal delivery parameter is a first signal delivery parameter and the instructions, when executed, automatically identify a second signal delivery parameter that includes at least one of a signal frequency, amplitude, or pulse width.