Spinal Cord Stimulation Self-Programming via Patient Remote Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spinal cord stimulation systems require clinician intervention for reprogramming, limiting patient autonomy and efficiency in adjusting stimulation parameters for optimal pain management.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow patients to reprogram their implantable medical devices through a patient remote control with a user interface, enabling entry into a reprogramming mode, displaying trial programs, calibrating these programs, and determining their efficacy based on patient feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clinician intervention is required for reprogramming, then programming accuracy and reliability are improved, but patient autonomy and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables patients to perform self-reprogramming through a remote interface. The processor automatically generates trial programs based on patient inputs and routines, allowing patients to adjust stimulation parameters without clinician intervention while maintaining programming accuracy through automated calibration algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote interface acts as an intermediary between the patient and the implantable medical device. It translates patient inputs into programmed stimulation parameters and provides a user-friendly interface that simplifies the reprogramming process while ensuring accurate parameter transmission to the device.
2Measurement precision
If clinician intervention is required for reprogramming, then programming precision is improved, but time consumption and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-generates multiple trial programs with different stimulation parameters before patient use. When reprogramming is needed, the processor automatically selects and calibrates appropriate trial programs based on patient inputs, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual programming sessions while maintaining precision through automated algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated program generation and calibration system allows patients to perform reprogramming independently. The processor automatically adjusts stimulation parameters based on patient feedback and routines, significantly reducing the time required compared to clinician-led programming sessions while maintaining programming precision.
3Reliability
If multiple trial programs are tested, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reprogramming process is divided into discrete trial programs, each testing specific stimulation parameters. The processor systematically cycles through these segmented trial programs, allowing patients to evaluate different parameter sets independently. This segmentation makes the complex process of finding optimal parameters more manageable and less burdensome for patients.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates patient feedback loops where patients rate the effectiveness of each trial program. The processor uses this feedback to automatically select and calibrate subsequent trial programs, creating an iterative process that improves treatment effectiveness while keeping the user interface simple and the operational burden low.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for reprogramming an implantable medical device. A reprogramming mode may be initiated in an application running on a patient remote control. In the reprogramming mode, one or more trial programs may be displayed on a user interface. The one or more trial programs may be displayed in response to receiving an initial patient efficacy rating below a predetermined threshold. The one or more trial programs may be calibrated. The implantable medical device may be successively operated in accordance with the parameters of each trial program. A patient efficacy rating may determine if any of the trial programs meet a predetermined acceptable pain management standard.