Spinal Cord Stimulator Fitting for Sub-Perception Electrode Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) therapy for chronic pain can cause paresthesia, and sub-perception therapy, which provides pain relief without paresthesia, requires longer battery life or frequent recharging due to higher power consumption, and electrode selection is difficult, especially when the patient cannot feel the stimulation.
Innovation Solution
Employing supra-perception stimulation during the sweet spot search to quickly determine effective electrodes, followed by titrating to sub-perception therapy, reduces the wash-in period and ensures immediate effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If sub-perception therapy is used to provide pain relief without paresthesia, then patient comfort is improved, but battery life is reduced due to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary supra-perception stimulation during the sweet spot search phase to identify effective electrodes before transitioning to sub-perception therapy. This preliminary action allows the system to establish optimal electrode configurations that will later enable effective sub-perception therapy with reduced power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between supra-perception and sub-perception stimulation modes. During the initial fitting phase, supra-perception stimulation is used for rapid electrode identification, then the system switches to sub-perception mode for ongoing therapy, optimizing the balance between treatment effectiveness and power consumption.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sub-perception therapy is used, then patient comfort is improved, but the wash-in period is extended due to delayed effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary supra-perception stimulation during the sweet spot search to quickly identify effective electrodes before transitioning to sub-perception therapy. This preliminary action reduces the wash-in period by establishing optimal electrode configurations in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses patient feedback during the supra-perception sweet spot search to identify effective electrodes, then applies this feedback information to configure the sub-perception therapy parameters, accelerating the transition to effective treatment.
3Measurement precision
If traditional electrode selection methods are used during sub-perception therapy, then electrode identification is performed, but the process is difficult and time-consuming since the patient cannot feel the stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system inverts the traditional approach by first using supra-perception stimulation (where patients can feel the stimulation) to identify effective electrodes during the sweet spot search, then transitioning to sub-perception therapy. This inversion solves the measurement problem by using a detectable mode for identification, then switching to the undetectable mode for therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses supra-perception stimulation as an intermediary phase to bridge the gap between traditional electrode selection and sub-perception therapy. This intermediary phase allows patients to provide feedback during electrode identification, solving the measurement problem before transitioning to the final therapy mode.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system, comprising an external system and a stimulator; wherein the external system is configured to determine a model for the patient during a testing procedure performed on the patient, wherein the model is indicative of a range or volume of preferred stimulation parameters; wherein the external system is configured to receive a plurality of pieces of fitting information for the patient; wherein the external system is configured to determine one or more sets of stimulation parameters for the patient using the pieces of fitting information, wherein the one or more sets of stimulation parameters are selected from the range or volume of preferred stimulation parameters; and wherein the external system is configured to program the stimulator device with at least one of the one or more sets of stimulation parameters.