Variable operating point neural electrostimulation such as to treat rls

A system for treating a particular patient using external transcutaneous neural electrostimulation therapy signals applied via at least one electrostimulation electrode configured for location at a first external target body location, the system comprising:

• an external, non-implantable electrostimulation unit, including:
• an electrostimulation signal generator, coupled to the at least one electrostimulation electrode to deliver a plurality of electrostimulation therapy signals to the particular patient, wherein an individual electrostimulation therapy signal comprises a pulsed electrical signal having a stimulation intensity characterized by at least one amplitude parameter and at least one timing parameter;
• an electrostimulation response detector to receive electrostimulation response indications of the particular patient to the corresponding electrostimulation therapy signals;
• a controller, coupled to the electrostimulation signal generator and the electrostimulation response detector, to control the generation and delivery of individual electrostimulation therapy signals and to receive the electrostimulation response indications from the electrostimulation response detector, wherein the controller:
• determines a respective response indication threshold amplitude parameter for the particular patient at a plurality of values of one of the at least one timing parameters;
• generates a characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship based on the determined respective response indication threshold amplitude parameters and the plurality of values of the at least one timing parameter;
• and
• generates and applies subsequent electrostimulation therapy signals to the particular patient according to (1) at least one goal and (2) a variable operating point based upon the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship;
• and
• wherein the controller determines the variable operating point based upon the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship and the at least one goal includes at least one or a combination or composite of:
• selecting a lower power setting, including by at least one of selecting or varying the operating point based on the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship, in response to an occurrence of at least one of:
• (i) a low battery condition, (ii) too high temperature or insufficient heat dissipation condition, or (iii) a long-duration neural electrostimulation therapy signal delivery;
• modulating at least one of neural accommodation or plasticity, including by varying the operating point based on the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship;
• compensating for varying electrode-skin interface impedance, including by at least one of selecting or varying the operating point based on the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship;
• maintaining consistent sensation for the particular patient, including by varying the operating point based on the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship;
• at least one of selecting or varying the operating point based on the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship and at least one of a sleep state or sleep duration of the patient;
• or
• controlling power consumption, including by at least one of selecting or varying the operating point based on the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship.

A system for treating a particular patient using external transcutaneous neural electrostimulation therapy signals applied via at least one electrostimulation electrode configured for location at a first external target body location, the system comprising:

• an external, non-implantable electrostimulation unit, including:
• an electrostimulation signal generator, coupled to the at least one electrostimulation electrode to deliver a plurality of electrostimulation therapy signals to the particular patient, wherein an individual electrostimulation therapy signal comprises a pulsed electrical signal having a stimulation intensity characterized by at least one amplitude parameter and at least one timing parameter;
• an electrostimulation response detector to receive electrostimulation response indications of the particular patient to the corresponding electrostimulations;
• a controller, coupled to the electrostimulation signal generator and the electrostimulation response detector, to control the generation and delivery of individual electrostimulation therapy signals and to receive the electrostimulation response indications from the electrostimulation response detector, wherein the controller:
• determines a respective response indication threshold amplitude parameter for the particular patient at a plurality of values of one of the at least one timing parameter;
• generates a characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship based on the determined respective response indication threshold amplitude parameters and the plurality of values of one of the at least one timing parameter;
• and
• generates and applies subsequent electrostimulation therapy signals to the particular patient according to (1) at least one goal and (2) a variable operating point based upon the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship;
• and
• wherein the controller generates the characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship determined using patient feedback input from the particular patient via the electrostimulation response detector providing the response indication threshold amplitude parameter including at least one or a combination or composite of:
• a patient-subjective distraction threshold amplitude parameter;
• a patient-subjective discomfort threshold amplitude parameter;
• a patient-subjective sensation threshold amplitude parameter;
• or
• a patient-subjective tolerability threshold amplitude parameter;
• a patient-subjective symptom suppression threshold amplitude parameter;
• a motor threshold amplitude parameter determined using input from sensing electrodes, externally associated with the particular patient, via the electrostimulation response detector;
• a leg movement suppression threshold amplitude parameter determined using input from an accelerometer or an inertial measurement unit (IMU), externally associated with the particular patient, via the electrostimulation response generator;
• or
• a sleep threshold amplitude parameter determined using input from a sleep detector sensor, externally associated with the particular patient, via the electrostimulation response detector.

A method for treating a particular patient, having one or more symptoms associated with at least one neural condition, using external transcutaneous neural electrostimulation therapy signals applied via at least one electrostimulation electrode configured for location at a first external target body location, the method comprising:

• generating and delivering a plurality of transcutaneous electrostimulation therapy signals to the particular patient to treat at least one symptom, wherein an individual electrostimulation therapy signal comprises a pulsed electrical signal having a stimulation intensity characterized by at least one amplitude parameter and at least one timing parameter;
• receiving electrostimulation response indications of the particular patient to the individual ones of the plurality of electrostimulation therapy signals;
• controlling individual ones of the plurality of electrostimulation therapy signals generated and delivered and receiving the corresponding electrostimulation response indications to individual ones of the plurality of electrostimulation therapy signals;
• determining a respective a response indication threshold amplitude parameter for the particular patient at a plurality of values of one of the at least one timing parameter;
• generating a characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship based on the determined respective response indication threshold amplitude parameter and the plurality of values of one of the at least one timing parameter;
• and
• generating and applying subsequent electrostimulation therapy signals to the particular patient according to (1) at least one goal and (2) a variable operating point based upon the generated characteristic electrostimulation intensity relationship.