# US 2025/0095871 A1 · Automatic current balancing with lock control for a clinician programmer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0095871 A1 - Document ID: US20250095871A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/959,097 - Filed: 2024-11-25 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2013-05-16 - Assignees: Cirtec Medical Corp. - Applicants: Cirtec Medical Corporation - Inventors: Norbert Kaula; Yohannes Iyassu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250095871A1 ## CPC - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A61N 1/36185: {Selection of the electrode configuration} - G06F 3/0484: for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range - G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence) - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 3/0485: Scrolling or panning - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - A61N 1/37247: {User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A method of electrical stimulation programming includes providing a user interface for an electronic programmer that is configured to program stimulation parameters of an electrical stimulation therapy. The electrical stimulation therapy is deliverable to a patient via an implantable medical device that includes a plurality of electrodes. The user interface includes a user-operable mechanism configured to activate different subsets of the electrodes. The user-operable mechanism is displayed by the user interface while the electrical stimulation therapy is currently in an “off” state. Based on a determination that the electrical stimulation therapy is currently in an “on” state, the user interface is reconfigured at least in part by deactivating the user-operable mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of electrical stimulation programming, comprising: providing a user interface for an electronic programmer that is configured to program stimulation parameters of an electrical stimulation therapy, wherein the electrical stimulation therapy is deliverable to a patient via an implantable medical device that includes a plurality of electrodes, wherein the user interface includes a user-operable mechanism configured to activate different subsets of the electrodes, and wherein the user-operable mechanism is displayed by the user interface while the electrical stimulation therapy is currently in an “off” state; and reconfiguring, based on a determination that the electrical stimulation therapy is currently in an “on” state, the user interface at least in part by deactivating the user-operable mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the user-operable mechanism includes a slider; and as the slider is moved in a first direction or in a second direction opposite the first direction, different combinations of the electrodes are selected for receiving the stimulation parameters as inputs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein: the electrodes are arranged in a column on the implantable medical device; and the different combinations of the electrodes correspond to electrodes at different locations in the column. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein: the user interface further includes a graphical representation of at least a portion of the implantable medical device on which the electrodes are located; and as the slider is moved in the first direction or in the second direction, the graphical representation highlights different subsets of electrodes in the graphical representation that correspond with the different combinations of the electrodes in the implantable medical device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the user interface further displays a currently-programmed value of one or more of the stimulation parameters for each electrode in the highlighted subset of electrodes in the graphical representation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the displayed currently-programmed value is adjustable via the user interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising: calculating, based on a currently selected combination of the electrodes, a maximum limit for each of the one or more stimulation parameters; and preventing an adjustment of the currently-programmed value from exceeding the calculated maximum limit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising: recalculating the maximum limit when a different combination of the electrodes is selected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivating the user-operable mechanism includes hiding the user-operable mechanism from the user interface when the electrical stimulation therapy is at the “on” state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivating the user-operable mechanism is performed automatically without an input from a user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: after the reconfiguring, determining that the electrical stimulation therapy is at the “off” state again; and reactivating the user-operable mechanism based on the determining that the electrical stimulation therapy is at the “off” state again. ### Claim 12 An electronic device configured to program stimulation parameters of an electrical stimulation therapy for an implantable medical device that includes a plurality of electrodes, the electronic device comprising: a memory storage component configured to store programming code; and one or more hardware processors configured to execute the programming code to perform operations that include: providing, when the electrical stimulation therapy is not currently being delivered, a user interface for the electronic device, wherein the user interface includes a mechanism that is operable by a user to select different subsets of the electrodes of the implantable medical device for programming; and automatically hiding, when the electrical stimulation therapy is currently being delivered, the mechanism from the user interface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, wherein: the mechanism is movable in a first direction or in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a movement of the mechanism in the first direction or in the second direction enables the different subsets of the electrodes to become selectable for receiving programming inputs for the stimulation parameters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic device of claim 13, wherein: the implantable medical device includes a lead on which the electrodes are located; the user interface further includes a graphical representation of the lead; and the movement of the mechanism highlights the different subsets of the electrodes in the graphical representation of the lead. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the user interface further displays a user-configurable value of one of the stimulation parameters for each highlighted subset of the electrodes in the graphical representation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein: the user-configurable value is prevented from being configured to exceed a maximum limit; and the maximum limit is dynamically recalculated as the different subsets of the electrodes are selected for programming. ### Claim 17 A medical system, comprising: an implantable medical device, the implantable medical device including a lead having a plurality of electrodes, wherein the implantable medical device is configured to generate electrical pulses that are deliverable to a patient via the electrodes; and an electronic programmer that includes: a graphical user interface configured to receive an input from a user and display a visual output to the user; a memory storage component configured to store computer instructions; and a processor component configured to execute the computer instructions to perform the following operations: displaying, via the graphical user interface while the implantable medical device is not generating the electrical pulses, a user-operable mechanism configured to enable different subsets of the electrodes for electrical stimulation programming; and automatically hiding, based on a determination that the implantable medical device is generating the electrical pulses, the user-operable mechanism from the graphical user interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medical system of claim 17, wherein: the user-operable mechanism includes a slider; and as the slider is moved in a first direction or in a second direction different from the first direction, the different subsets of the electrodes are enabled for the electrical stimulation programming. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The medical system of claim 18, wherein: the user interface further includes a graphical representation of the lead; and as the slider is moved in the first direction or in the second direction, the different subsets of the electrodes in the graphical representation are enabled for the electrical stimulation programming. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medical system of claim 19, wherein: the user interface further displays a programmable value of stimulation parameter for each enabled subset of the electrodes in the graphical representation; and the user interface prevents the programmable value from exceeding a dynamically calculated limit.