# US 2013/0158628 A1 · Seamless integration of different programming modes for a neurostimulator programming system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158628 A1 - Document ID: US20130158628A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/715,751 - Filed: 2012-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-16 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation - Inventors: Sridhar Kothandaraman; Dongchul Lee; Mun Pook Lui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158628A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/36185: {Selection of the electrode configuration} - A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system} - A61N 1/36071: {Pain} - A61N 1/37247: {User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means} - A61N 1/37264: {Changing the program; Upgrading firmware} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A system and method for programming a neurostimulation device coupled to a plurality of electrodes implanted adjacent tissue of a patient are provided. A first electrode configuration corresponding to a first mode of programming the neurostimulation device is defined. A second programming mode of programming the neurostimulation device different from the first programming mode is selected. A second electrode configuration is defined based on the first electrode configuration in response to the selection of the second programming mode. The neurostimulation device is programmed using the second programming mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for programming a neurostimulation device coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising: a user interface including a programming selection control element configured for allowing a user to select one of two different programming modes for the neurostimulation device; processing circuitry configured for defining a first electrode configuration corresponding to the first programming mode, selecting the second programming mode in response to actuation of the programming selection control element, and defining a second electrode configuration based on the first electrode configuration in response to the selection of the second programming mode, the second electrode configuration corresponding to the second programming mode; and control circuitry configured for generating a stimulation parameter set corresponding to the second electrode configuration, and instructing the neurostimulation device to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the stimulation parameter set. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first electrode configuration is not a valid electrode configuration for the second programming mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second electrode configuration approximates the first electrode configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second electrode configurations is a fractionalized electrode configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first programming mode is one of a manual programming mode and a semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the other of the manual programming mode and the semi-automated programming mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the processing circuitry is configured for defining a virtual multipole relative to the plurality of electrodes when programming the neurostimulation device in the semi-automated mode, and computing amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the virtual multipole, wherein the stimulation parameter set includes the computed amplitude values. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the semi-automated programming mode is configured for panning the virtual multipole across the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the virtual multipole includes at least one anode and a cathode, and the semi-automated programming mode is configured for displacing the at least one anode relative to the cathode as the cathode is gradually displaced across the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first programming mode is the manual programming mode, and the second programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is configured for defining the second electrode configuration by: computing a centroid of cathodic current of the first electrode configuration; defining a virtual multipole having a virtual cathode located at the centroid of the cathodic current; and computing current amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulates the virtual multipole, thereby defining the second electrode configuration. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the first programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the manual programming mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the first electrode configuration and the second electrode configuration are identical. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first programming mode is a first semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is a second semi-automated programming mode. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the second semi-automated programming mode has a limited number of electrode configurations, wherein defining the second electrode configuration comprises selecting one of the limited number of electrode configurations that best matches the first electrode configuration, thereby defining the second electrode configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry is configured for, prior to defining the second electrode configuration, gradually adjusting at least one stimulation parameter from a first value corresponding to the first electrode configuration to a second value corresponding to the second electrode configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises an electrical stimulation field focus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising telemetry circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured for transmitting the stimulation parameter set to the neurostimulation device via the telemetry circuitry. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing containing the user interface, the processing circuitry, and the control circuitry. ### Claim 19 A method of programming a neurostimulation device coupled to a plurality of electrodes implanted adjacent tissue of a patient, comprising: defining a first electrode configuration corresponding to a first mode of programming the neurostimulation device; selecting a second programming mode of programming the neurostimulation device different from the first programming mode; defining a second electrode configuration based on the first electrode configuration in response to the selection of the second programming mode; and programming the neurostimulation device using the second programming mode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the first electrode configuration is not a valid electrode configuration for the second programming mode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the second electrode configuration approximates the first electrode configuration. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein each of the first and second electrode configurations is a fractionalized electrode configuration. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the first programming mode is one of a manual programming mode and a semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the other of the manual programming mode and the semi-automated programming mode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising: defining a virtual multipole relative to the plurality of electrodes when programming the neurostimulation device in the semi-automated mode; and computing amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the virtual multipole. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the semi-automated programming mode is configured for panning the virtual multipole across the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the virtual multipole includes at least one anode and a cathode, and the semi-automated programming mode is configured for displacing the at least one anode relative to the cathode as the cathode is gradually displaced across the plurality of electrodes. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first programming mode is the manual programming mode, and the second programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein defining the second electrode configuration comprises: computing a centroid of cathodic current of the first electrode configuration; defining a virtual multipole having a virtual cathode located at the centroid of the cathodic current; and computing current amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulates the virtual multipole, thereby defining the second electrode configuration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the first programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the manual programming mode. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the first electrode configuration and the second electrode configuration are identical. ### Claim 31 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the first programming mode is a first semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is a second semi-automated programming mode. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31, wherein the second semi-automated programming mode has a limited number of electrode configurations, wherein defining the second electrode configuration comprises selecting one of the limited number of electrode configurations that best matches the first electrode configuration, thereby defining the second electrode configuration. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, further comprising, prior to defining the second electrode configuration, gradually adjusting at least one stimulation parameter from a first value corresponding to the first electrode configuration to a second value corresponding to the second electrode configuration. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33, wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises an electrical stimulation field focus. ### Claim 35 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: applying electrical stimulation energy between the first electrode configuration and the tissue, and applying electrical stimulation energy between the second electrode configuration and the tissue. ### Claim 36 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the neurostimulation device is implanted within the patient. ### Claim 37 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the tissue is spinal cord tissue.