System and method for connecting devices to a neurostimulator

Abstract

A method for defining connections between a plurality of lead bodies and a plurality of output ports of a neurostimulator, and an external control device for performing the method are disclosed. The external control device includes a user interface and control circuitry. The method includes displaying the lead bodies and the output ports of the neurostimulator; selecting a first one of the lead bodies; dragging a connector from the first lead body to a first one of the output ports of the neurostimulator; and dropping the connector onto the first output port of the neurostimulator, thereby defining a connection between the first lead body and the first output port of the neurostimulator. In another embodiment, a method includes defining the connection between the first lead body and the first output port, and graphically displaying the connection between the first lead body and the first output port of the neurostimulator.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system, comprising:
 a user interface configured to:
 graphically display one or more lead bodies; 
 graphically display one or more neurostimulator output ports; and 
 receive user input to graphically connect one of the one or more graphically-displayed lead bodies to one of the one or more graphically displayed neurostimulator output ports; and 
   control circuitry operably connected to the user interface and configured to respond to the received user input by defining a connection between the one or more lead bodies and the one or more neurostimulator output ports in accordance with the graphical connection.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the user interface is configured to receive user input for programming a neurostimulator with at least one stimulation parameter based on the defined connection between the one or more lead bodies and the one or more neurostimulator output ports; and   the control circuitry is configured to program the neurostimulator with the at least one stimulation parameter based on the defined combination.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at last one stimulation parameter includes an electrode combination defining combinations of one or more activated electrodes for the one or more lead bodies in accordance with the defined connection. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a polarity for the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a parameter to define one or more cathodic electrodes and one or more anodic electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes an amplitude for stimulation delivered using the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a pulse duration for stimulation delivered using the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a pulse rate for stimulation delivered using the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a pulse shape for stimulation delivered using the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to verify compatibility for the defined connection between the lead body and the neurostimulator output. 
     
     
         12 . A method for defining a connection between a lead body and a neurostimulator output port, the method comprising:
 using a user interface to graphically display one or more lead bodies and one or more neurostimulator output ports; and   using control circuitry operably connected to the user interface to respond to received user input by defining a connection between the one or more lead bodies and the one or more neurostimulator output ports, the received user input graphically connecting one of the one or more graphically-displayed lead bodies to one of the one or more graphically displayed neurostimulator output ports.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 using the user interface to receive user input for programming a neurostimulator with at least one stimulation parameter based on the defined connection between the lead body and the neurostimulator output port; and   using the control circuitry to program the neurostimulator with the at least one stimulation parameter based on the defined combination.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at last one stimulation parameter includes an electrode combination defining combinations of one or more activated electrodes for the one or more lead bodies in accordance with the defined connection. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a polarity for the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a parameter to define one or more cathodic electrodes and one or more anodic electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes an amplitude for stimulation delivered using the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes at last one of a pulse duration, a pulse rate or a pulse shape for stimulation delivered using the one or more activated electrodes. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 graphically display one or more lead bodies and one or more neurostimulator output ports; and   respond to received user input by defining a connection between the one or more lead bodies and the one or more neurostimulator output ports, the received user input graphically connecting one of the one or more graphically-displayed lead bodies to one of the one or more graphically displayed neurostimulator output ports.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the instructions include instructions, which when executed by the machine, cause the machine to:
 receive user input for programming a neurostimulator with at least one stimulation parameter based on the defined connection between the one or more lead bodies and the one or more neurostimulator output ports; and   program the neurostimulator with the at least one stimulation parameter based on the defined combination.   
     
     
         21 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter includes a polarity, an amplitude, a pulse duration, a pulse rate, or a pulse shape for stimulation delivered using one or more electrodes for the one or more lead bodies in accordance with the defined connection.