Pain management system and method

A system for selecting effective electrode stimulation patterns in a computer controlled neuromodulation system comprising:

• means for storing and applying an initial electrical stimulation pattern defined by an initial electrode configuration and at least one variable parameter;
• means fro recording at least an initial representation of patient-corresponding regions afflicted by pain as well as a representation of an effect of the initial electrical stimulation pattern which causes at least a perceptible response;
• means for comparing the representation of an effect of the initial electrical stimulation pattern to the representation of patient-corresponding regions afflicted by pain and generating a result corresponding thereto;
• and
• means for generating at least a new suggested electrode configuration based upon a level of sufficiency of the result.

A method for anatomically positioning electrodes that are part of a neurological stimulator, the method comprising the step of:

• initially positioning the electrodes in a patient's body;
• intraoperatively applying a predetermined stimulation program that has a variable amplitude;
• intraoperatively adjusting the amplitude and recording, by patient response, the amplitude at which stimulation is perceived;
• intraoperatively adjusting the amplitude and recording, by patient response, the amplitude at an occurrence of an event;
• recording, by patient response, an indication as to whether the stimulation was to the left or right of the patient's body;
• and
• when the event is that a motor response occurs before a bilsteral perception, displaying suggested reositioning instructions for the electrode based upon a ratio of the recorded amplitudes and the indication as to whether the stimulation was to the left or right of the patient's body.

A method for determining at least one effective electrode stimlation pattern in a computer controlled neuromodulation system having at least one multi-electrode lead implanted within a patient's body, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) administering electrical stimulation for a predetermined electrode configuration at a first position relative to the at least one multi-electrode lead, wherein the electrode configuration causes a number of electrodes to be positive and a number of electrodes to be negative, the positive and negative electrodes having a prescribed polarity arrangement;
• (b) serially administering electrical stimulation for the electrode configuration at a second position relative to the at least one multi-electrode lead, wherein at least one of the electrodes of the at least one multi-electrode lead differs in polarity from step (a) to step (b) but the prescribed polarity arrangement remains unchanged;
• (c) recording, by patient response, at least one variable parameter of the electrical stimulation in which the electrical stimulation causes at least one perceptible response, such recording occurring for each position of the electrode configuration;
• (d) comparing a perceived effect of the electrical stimulation at each position;
• and
• (e) selecting at least one position from such comparison.

A system for analyzing patient responses to aid in positioning electrodes of a neuromodulation system, the system comprising:

• a neuromodulation system, having an implanted receiving device and at least one lead having a plurality of electrodes which is coupled to the receiving device, to administer stimulation to selected tissue of a patient, wherein the receiving device generates electrical energy for delivery to the at least one lead which is coupled thereto;
• a general purpose computer, the computer being capable of communicating with the receiving device to define the electrical energy generated by the receiving device;
• sofware for recording patient responses to applied stimulation, the stimulation being administered in accordance with a stimulation setting having a plurality of variable parameters;
• and
• software for displaying suggestions for at least one alternative stimulation setting as a function of the recorded patient responses.

A method for determining a stimulation setting for a neurological stimulator having at least one multi-electrode lead to provide a desired stimulation effect in a human body, where the stimulation effect corresponds to the stimulation setting, the method comprising the steps of:

• initially positioning the at least one multi-electrode lead in the body of a patient;
• selecting a stimulation setting having a variable parameter;
• applying stimulation in accordance with the stimulation setting;
• intraoperatively adjusting the variable parameter and recording, by patient response, the variable parameter where a desired stimulation perception occurs;
• intraoperatively administering electrical stimulation having a pulse characteristic determined as a function of the desired variable parameter previously recorded;
• and
• determining a new stimulation setting with a computing device based upon the previously recorded variable parameter.

A method for anatomically positioning electrodes that are part of a neurological stimulator, method comprising the steps of:

• initially positioning the electrodes in the body of a patient;
• selecting a stimulation setting having a variable parameter;
• applying stimulation in accordance with the stimulation setting;
• intraoperatively adjusting the variable parameter and recording, by patient response, the variable parameter where a desired stimulation perception occurs;
• intraoperatively administering electrical stimulation having a pulse characteristic determined as a function of the desired variable parameter previously recorded;
• and
• if necessary, physically repositioning the electrodes for more effective coverage of the area afflicted by pain based upon the previously recorded variable parameter.

A system for selecting effective electrode stimulation patterns in a computer controlled neuromodulation system, the system comprising:

• means for storing and applying an initial electrical stimulation pattern defined by an initial electrode configuration and at least one variable parameter of the initial electrical stimulation pattern;
• means for recording at least an initial representation of patient-corresponding regions afflicted by pain and a representation of an effect of the initial electrical stimulation pattern which causes at least a perceptible response;
• means for comparing the representation of an effect of the initial electrical stimulation pattern to the representation of patient-corresponding regions afflicted by pain and generating a result corresponding thereto;
• and
• means for generating at least one new variable parameter for the initial elecrical stimulation pattern based upon a level of sufficiency of the result.