Systems and methods for selecting stimulation parameters by targeting and steering

Abstract

Methods and systems for selecting stimulation parameters using targeting and steering techniques are presented. For example, a method or system (via actions performed by a processor) can include receiving a name of an anatomical or physiological target or a name of a disease or disorder; receiving a clinical goal; and using at least 1) the anatomical or physiological target or disease or disorder and 2) the clinical goal, selecting a set of stimulation parameters. Another method or system (via actions performed by its processor) can include receiving a first set of stimulation parameters; receiving a command to alter the first set of stimulation parameters that does not include, or is not composed exclusively of, a numerical value for any of the stimulation parameters; and modifying the first set of stimulation parameters to create a second set of stimulation parameters based on the command.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for identifying a set of stimulation parameters, the method comprising:
 receiving, as a first input from a user, a name of an anatomical or physiological target;   receiving, as a second input from the user, a clinical goal, wherein the clinical goal comprises a verb or a noun;   after receiving both the first input and the second input and using both 1) the anatomical or physiological target and 2) the clinical goal, selecting, by a computer processor without further user intervention, the set of stimulation parameters; and   electrically stimulating a patient using the set of stimulation parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clinical goal comprises a verb/noun combination. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clinical goal refers to a disease, a disorder, or a symptom of the disease or disorder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the clinical goal refers to an effect associated with electrical stimulation of the anatomical or physiological target or a side effect associated with electrical stimulation of the anatomical or physiological target. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, as a third input from the user, a system goal, wherein selecting the set of stimulation parameters comprises using the system goal to select the set of stimulation parameters. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system goal refers to one or more components of an electrical stimulation system or to one or more stimulation parameters and also refers to an objective related to the one or more components or the one or more stimulation parameters. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting the set of stimulation parameters further comprises using previous stimulation instances or estimated stimulation instances to select the set of stimulation parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the clinical goal comprises selecting, the clinical goal from a list that is based on the previously received name of the anatomical or physiological target. 
     
     
         9 . A system for identifying a set of stimulation parameters, the system comprising:
 a computer processor configured and arranged to perform the following actions:
 receiving, as a first input from a user, a name of an anatomical or physiological target; 
 receiving, as a second input from the user, a clinical goal, wherein the clinical goal comprises a verb or a noun; 
 after receiving both the first input and the second input and using both 1) the anatomical or physiological target and 2) the clinical goal, selecting, by the computer processor without further user intervention, the set of stimulation parameters; and 
 communicating the set of stimulation parameters to an implantable pulse generator to stimulate a patient using the set of stimulation parameters. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the clinical goal comprises a verb/noun combination. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the clinical goal refers to a disease, a disorder, a symptom of the disease or disorder, an effect associated with electrical stimulation of the anatomical or physiological target, or a side effect associated with electrical stimulation of the anatomical or physiological target. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-implemented method for identifying a set of stimulation parameters, the method comprising:
 receiving, as a first input from a user, a name of a disease or disorder;   receiving, as a second input from the user, a clinical goal;   after receiving both the first input and the second input and using both 1) the disease or disorder and 2) the clinical goal, selecting, by a computer processor without further user intervention, the set of stimulation parameters; and   electrically stimulating a patient using the set of stimulation parameters.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving, as a third input from the user, a system goal, wherein selecting the set of stimulation parameters comprises using the system goal to select the set of stimulation parameters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the system goal refers to one or more components of an electrical stimulation system or to one or more stimulation parameters and also refers to an objective related to the one or more components or stimulation parameters. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the clinical goal refers to a symptom of the disease or disorder or to an effect or side effect associated with electrical stimulation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the clinical goal comprises receiving the clinical goal as a verb/noun combination. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the name of the disease or disorder comprises selecting the name of the disease or disorder from a list. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the name of the disease or disorder comprises receiving the name of the disease or disorder and also receiving a name of an anatomical or physiological target associated with the disease or disorder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the name of the disease or disorder comprises selecting the name of the disease or disorder from a list that is based on the previously received name of the anatomical or physiological target. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein receiving the clinical goal comprises selecting the clinical goal from a list that is based on the previously received name of the disease or disorder.