Neurostimulation programmer and method for globally assigning parameter values to electrodes

An external control device for use with a neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes capable of conveying electrical stimulation energy into tissue in which the electrodes are implanted, comprising:

• a user interface including a display screen configured to display graphical representations of the electrodes and for displaying at least one stimulation parameter control for use by a user to manually adjust at least one stimulation parameter value for a selected one of the electrodes;
• a controller/processor programmed to, in response to receiving user input using the user interface
• assign the at least one stimulation parameter value to the selected one of the electrodes,
• copy/cut the at least one stimulation parameter value from the selected one of the electrodes, and
• paste the at least one stimulation parameter value to another one of the electrodes;
• and
• output circuitry configured to transmit the at least one stimulation parameter value to the neurostimulator,
• wherein the user interface comprises a pointing device configured for use by the user to select the graphical electrode representation, and wherein the controller/processor is programmed to copy/cut the at least one stimulation parameter value from the selected one of the electrodes to the other one of the electrodes in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation, and
• wherein the user interface is programmed to be used by the user to use the pointing device to select the graphical electrode representation of the electrode to display a menu that includes a copy/cut command and a paste command, to use the pointing device to select the copy/cut command in the menu, and to use the pointing device to select the paste command in the menu, and the controller/processor is programmed to:
• copy/cut the at least one stimulation parameter value in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation of the electrode to display the menu and selecting the copy/cut command from the menu;
• and
• paste the at least one stimulation parameter value in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation of the other electrode to display the menu and selecting a paste command from the menu.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine that includes a user interface including a display screen, a controller/processor, and output circuitry, and that is configured for use with a neurostimulator coupled to a plurality of electrodes capable of conveying electrical stimulation energy into tissue in which the electrodes are implanted, cause the machine to:

• cause the user interface to display on the display screen graphical representations of the electrodes and at least one stimulation parameter control for use by a user to manually adjust at least one stimulation parameter value for a selected one of the electrodes;
• cause the controller/processor to, in response to receiving user input using the user interface,
• assign the at least one stimulation parameter value to the selected one of the electrodes,
• copy/cut the at least one stimulation parameter value from the selected one of the electrodes, and
• paste the at least one stimulation parameter value to another one of the electrodes;
• and
• cause the output circuitry to transmit the at least one stimulation parameter value to the neurostimulator;
• and
• perform at least one of a first function or a second function, wherein:
• the first function includes causing the user interface to drag and drop the graphical electrode representation into the other graphical electrode representation in response to user input, and cause the controller/processor to paste the at least one stimulation parameter value in response to dragging and dropping the graphical electrode representation into the other graphical electrode representation;
• and
• the second function includes causing the user interface to select the graphical electrode representation of the electrode in response to user input to display a menu that includes a copy/cut command and a paste command, to select the copy/cut command in the menu in response to user input, and to select the paste command in the menu in response to user input and cause the controller/processor to copy/cut the at least one stimulation parameter value in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation of the electrode to display the menu and select the copy/cut command from the menu, and paste the at least one stimulation parameter value in response to selecting the graphical electrode representation of the other electrode to display the menu and select a paste command from the menu.