Systems and methods for clinician control of stimulation systems

A system comprising:

• an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen;
• an implantable pulse generator (IPG);
• and
• a housing that is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device, the housing being configured to encase a communications module configured to communicate with both the IPG and with the off-the-shelf handheld device,
• wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses a first communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier of the IPG, the first communication protocol comprising a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG,
• wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the custom communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG, and to send the plurality of stimulus parameters to the off-the-shelf handheld device,
• wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to receive the plurality of stimulus parameters from the communications module, to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and
• wherein the communications module comprises a protocol translator that translates data between different communication protocols, the communications module being configured to receive the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter from the off-the-shelf handheld device via a second communication protocol, and to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the custom communication protocol, the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter, wherein the second communication protocol is different than the custom communication protocol.

A method comprising:

• sending at least a first communication between a communications module and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) using a first communication protocol, wherein the communications module is included in a housing that is configured to encase the communications module, wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses the first communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier of the IPG, and wherein the first communication protocol comprises a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG;
• and
• sending at least a second communication between the communications module and an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen, wherein the housing of the communications module is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device,
• wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the custom communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG, and to send the plurality of stimulus parameters to the off-the-shelf handheld device,
• wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to receive the plurality of stimulus parameters from the communications module, to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and
• wherein the communications module comprises a protocol translator that translates data between different communication protocols, the communications module being configured to receive the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter from the off-the-shelf handheld device via a second communication protocol, and to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the custom communication protocol, the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter, wherein the second communication protocol is different than the custom communication protocol.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, upon execution, cause a system to:

• send at least a first communication between a communications module and an implantable pulse generator (IPG) using a first communication protocol, wherein the communications module is included in a housing that is configured to encase the communications module, wherein the communications module comprises a wireless module that uses the first communication protocol to communicate wirelessly with the IPG using a unique identifier of the IPG, and wherein the first communication protocol comprises a custom communication protocol that is determined based on one or more capabilities of the IPG;
• and
• send at least a second communication between the communications module and an off-the-shelf handheld device having a display screen, wherein the housing of the communications module is distinct from the off-the-shelf handheld device,
• wherein the communications module is configured to receive, wirelessly from the IPG via the custom communication protocol, a plurality of stimulus parameters used by the IPG, and to send the plurality of stimulus parameters to the off-the-shelf handheld device,
• wherein the off-the-shelf handheld device is configured to receive the plurality of stimulus parameters from the communications module, to display the plurality of stimulus parameters using the display screen, to receive input from a user to adjust at least one stimulus parameter of the plurality of stimulus parameters, and to send the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter to the communications module, and
• wherein the communications module comprises a protocol translator that translates data between different communication protocols, the communications module being configured to receive the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter from the off-the-shelf handheld device via a second communication protocol, and to send, wirelessly to the IPG via the custom communication protocol, the unique identifier of the IPG and the at least one adjusted stimulus parameter, wherein the second communication protocol is different than the custom communication protocol.