Programming closed-loop neural stimulation therapy

An automated method of controlling a neuromodulation device to deliver a neural stimulus to neural tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• delivering the neural stimulus to the neural tissue according to a value of a stimulus intensity parameter;
• measuring an intensity of a neural response evoked by the stimulus, completing a feedback loop by using the measured intensity and one or more controller parameters to adjust the stimulus intensity parameter so as to maintain the measured intensity at a target value;
• and
• determining optimal values of the one or more controller parameters from a predetermined representative value of a variable that characterises performance of the feedback loop, the predetermined representative value having been derived from data of previously programmed patients.

A neural stimulation system comprising:

• a neuromodulation device for controllably delivering a neural stimulus, the neuromodulation device comprising:
• a plurality of implantable electrodes including one or more stimulus electrodes and one or more sense electrodes;
• a stimulus source configured to provide a neural stimulus to be delivered via the one or more stimulus electrodes to a neural pathway of a patient in order to evoke a neural response on the neural pathway;
• measurement circuitry configured to process a signal sensed at the one or more sense electrodes subsequent to the delivered neural stimulus, the sensed signal including an evoked neural response;
• and
• a control unit configured to:
• control the stimulus source to provide the neural stimulus according to a stimulus intensity parameter;
• measure an intensity of the evoked neural response in the sensed signal;
• and
• implement a feedback controller which completes a feedback loop, the feedback controller configured to complete the feedback loop by using the measured intensity and one or more controller parameters to adjust the stimulus intensity parameter so as to maintain the measured intensity at a target value;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• determine optimal values of the one or more controller parameters from a predetermined value of an amplification parameter of the feedback loop.

An automated method of controlling a neuromodulation device to deliver a neural stimulus to neural tissue of a patient, the method comprising:

• delivering the neural stimulus to the neural tissue according to a stimulus intensity parameter;
• measuring an intensity of a neural response evoked by the stimulus,
• completing a feedback loop by using the measured intensity and one or more controller parameters to adjust the stimulus intensity parameter so as to maintain the measured intensity at a target value;
• and
• determining optimal values of the one or more controller parameters from a predetermined value of an amplification parameter of the feedback loop.