Systems and methods for using cost parameters for programming electrical stimulation

An electrical stimulation system, comprising:

• at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead comprising a plurality of electrodes;
• a control unit coupled to the at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead and configured for generating electrical stimulation for delivery through the at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead;
• and
• a processor configured to identify stimulation parameters for programming of the control unit to generate the electrical stimulation, the processor configured to perform actions comprising:
• receiving a target and a location of the at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead;
• receiving at least one stimulation criterion;
• for each of the at least one stimulation criterion,
• a) for each of at least one value of a cost parameter, calculating the value of the cost parameter by
• 1) determining a cost of stimulating at least one defined region of tissue,
• 2) determining a benefit of stimulating a region of the target, and
• 3) calculating the value of the cost parameter as a ratio of the cost of stimulating the at least one defined region of tissue over the benefit of stimulating the region of the target, and
• b) identifying one or more values of the cost parameter that meet the at least one stimulation criterion;
• programming the electrical stimulation system utilizing a one of the one or more values of the cost parameter that meet the at least one stimulation criterion;
• and
• stimulating a patient using the at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead and the programming of the electrical stimulation system utilizing the one of the one or more values of the cost parameter that meet the at least one stimulation criterion.

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 actions comprising:

• receiving a target and a location of the at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead;
• receiving at least one stimulation criterion;
• for each of the at least one stimulation criterion,
• a) for each of at least one value of a cost parameter, calculating the value of the cost parameter by
• 1) determining a cost of stimulating at least one defined region of tissue,
• 2) determining a benefit of stimulating a region of the target, and
• 3) calculating the value of the cost parameter as a ratio of the cost of stimulating the at least one defined region of tissue over the benefit of stimulating the region of the target, and
• b) identifying one or more values of the cost parameter that meet the at least one stimulation criterion;
• programming the electrical stimulation system utilizing a one of the one or more values of the cost parameter that meet the at least one stimulation criterion;
• and
• stimulating a patient using the at least one implantable electrical stimulation lead and the programming of the electrical stimulation system utilizing the one of the one or more values of the cost parameter that meet the at least one stimulation criterion.