Systems and methods for estimating a volume of activation using a compressed database of threshold values

A system for estimating a volume of activation around an implanted electrical stimulation lead for a set of stimulation parameters, the system comprising:

• a display;
• and
• a processor coupled to the display and configured to:
• provide a database comprising a plurality of planar distributions of stimulation threshold values and an index identifying the planar distributions that correspond to angular locations around the implanted electrical stimulation lead based on a selection of one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead for delivery of stimulation, wherein each of the planar distributions represents a set of regions in a plane relative to the implanted electrical stimulation lead and each of the stimulation threshold values corresponds to a different one of the regions and comprises a stimulation amplitude that when applied to the selected one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead will stimulate tissue at the one of the regions corresponding to the stimulation threshold value;
• receive a set of stimulation parameters comprising a first stimulation amplitude and a first selection of one of more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead for delivery of the first stimulation amplitude;
• determine an estimate of the volume of activation using the first stimulation amplitude, the first selection of one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead, and the database;
• and
• output on the display a graphical representation of the estimate of the volume of activation.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the instructions, the instructions comprising:

• providing a database comprising a plurality of planar distributions of stimulation threshold values and an index identifying the planar distributions that correspond to angular locations around the implanted electrical stimulation lead based on a selection of one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead for delivery of stimulation, wherein each of the planar distributions represents a set of regions in a plane relative to the implanted electrical stimulation lead and each of the stimulation threshold values corresponds to a different one of the regions and comprises a stimulation amplitude that when applied to the selected one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead will stimulate tissue at the one of the regions corresponding to the stimulation threshold value;
• receiving a set of stimulation parameters comprising a first stimulation amplitude and a first selection of one of more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead for delivery of the first stimulation amplitude;
• determining an estimate of the volume of activation using the first stimulation amplitude, the first selection of one or more electrodes of the implanted electrical stimulation lead, and the database;
• and
• displaying a graphical representation of the estimate of the volume of activation.