Controller interface for an implantable stimulator device

A computer-assisted method to configure settings from an external controller device on an implanted stimulator device, the method comprising:

• presenting, on a display of the external controller device and to a user of the implanted stimulator device, configuration options of the implanted stimulator device as well as positioning arrangements of the external controller device relative to the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator device, and the positioning arrangements comprising reference images of the implanted stimulator device and a body area where the stimulator device is implanted;
• receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options;
• receiving a user adjustment of a position of the external controller device with respect to the implanted stimulator device;
• receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device;
• building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options, and for each user specified configuration option, a corresponding position arrangement of the external controller device with respect to the implanted stimulator device, as well as a corresponding quantitative index of pain;
• and
• selecting at least one configuration option with the corresponding positioning arrangement based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment.