Voxel Tagging for Clinical Effect Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current implantable electrical stimulation systems face challenges in effectively visualizing and optimizing clinical effects across multiple stimulation parameters, leading to difficulties in identifying suitable stimulation programs and minimizing side effects.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a computer processor to estimate stimulated regions, assign tags to voxels based on assessments of stimulation effects and side effects, and determine voxel types, allowing for the visualization of clinical effects and generation of optimized stimulation parameters for implantable pulse generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple stimulation parameters are tested to identify suitable stimulation programs, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of evaluating multiple stimulation parameters by dividing the brain into discrete volumetric elements (voxels). Each voxel is independently tagged with stimulation effects and side effects, allowing systematic organization and analysis of large datasets without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary visual mapping system that translates complex stimulation parameter data into intuitive graphical representations. The voxel-based visualization acts as a mediator between the raw data and the clinician, enabling easy interpretation of therapeutic effects and side effects across multiple stimulation programs
2Reliability
If stimulation parameters are optimized to enhance therapeutic outcomes, then treatment efficacy is improved, but risk of side effects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different tags to different voxels based on their specific stimulation effects and side effects. This allows identification of localized regions where side effects occur, enabling clinicians to adjust stimulation parameters to avoid those specific areas while maintaining therapeutic effects in other regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by visually displaying the spatial distribution of side effects alongside therapeutic effects. This immediate visual feedback allows clinicians to iteratively optimize stimulation parameters, adjusting electrode selections and parameters to achieve therapeutic outcomes while minimizing side effects in real-time
3Measurement precision
If detailed assessments of stimulation effects and side effects are collected, then measurement precision is improved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments detailed clinical assessments into discrete voxel-level tags, where each voxel receives specific tags for stimulation effects and side effects. This segmentation transforms complex continuous data into structured categorical data that is easier to process, store, and analyze systematically
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified digital copy of the complex stimulation data through voxel tagging. Instead of processing raw continuous assessment data, the system works with discrete tag assignments that replicate the essential information in a computationally efficient format, reducing processing complexity while preserving measurement precision
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for visualizing clinical effects can perform the following actions: obtain, for each of multiple stimulation instances, an estimation of a region stimulated during the stimulation instance and at least one assessment for at least one stimulation effect or stimulation side effect; assign, for each of the stimulation instances, a tag, selected from multiple tags, to each one of multiple voxels within the region stimulated during the stimulation instance, where the tag is selected based on the at least one assessment for the stimulation instance; and assign a voxel type, selected from multiple voxel types, to each of multiple voxels based on the tags assigned to the voxels. Optionally, the actions can also include display, on a display, a representation of multiple voxels with each of the displayed voxels having a graphical feature associated with the voxel type assigned to that voxel.