Systems and methods for stimulation-related patient population volume analysis and use

Abstract

A computer implemented system and method facilitates a cycle of generation, sharing, and refinement of volumes related to stimulation of anatomical tissue, such as brain or spinal cord stimulation. Such volumes can include target stimulation volumes, side effect volumes, and volumes of estimated activation. A computer system and method also facilitates analysis of groups of volumes, including analysis of differences and/or commonalities between different groups of volumes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for stimulating a patient, comprising:
 obtaining user input of a change in a clinical effect, wherein the clinical effect is either a therapeutic effect or a side effect;   determining, by a processor, a set of stimulation parameters to produce the change in the clinical effect; and   outputting the set of stimulation parameters to stimulate the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters comprises determining a target stimulation region based on estimated volumes of activation (VOAs) associated with electrical stimulations of a patient population. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the target stimulation region comprises identifying VOAs in which the clinical effect is observed when the clinical effect is a therapeutic effect or in which the clinical effect is not observed when the clinical effect is a side effect. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the target stimulation region comprises identifying at least one VOA for producing the change in the clinical effect when compared to a current stimulation of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters further comprises determining a trajectory of VOAs between a VOA representing a current stimulation of the patient and a one of the at least one VOA for producing the change in the clinical effect. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters further comprises determining, by the processor, a set of stimulation parameters for each VOA in the trajectory of VOAs. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein outputting the set of simulation parameters comprises sequentially outputting the set of simulation parameters for each VOA in the trajectory of VOAs for stimulation of the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising obtaining a rating for each of the VOAs with respect to the clinical effect, wherein determining a target stimulation region or a side effect region comprises selecting points for the target stimulation region or side effect region, wherein each of the points has a score equal to or higher than a threshold score, wherein the score is based on the VOAs containing the respective point weighted by the rating of the VOAs containing that respective point. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising filtering the VOAs by a time of day when electrical stimulation of each VOA was performed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising filtering the VOAs by a medication used by a patient associated with each VOA. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters comprises adjusting, by the processor, an amplitude of the stimulation to produce the change in the clinical effect. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the user input comprises providing a user control for a user to increase or decrease the clinical effect. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a memory device having program instructions stored thereon; and   a processor coupled to the display screen and configured for executing the program instructions, wherein the program instructions comprise:
 obtaining user input of a change in a clinical effect, wherein the clinical effect is either a therapeutic effect or a side effect; 
 determining a set of stimulation parameters to produce the change in the clinical effect; and 
 outputting the set of stimulation parameters to stimulate the patient. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters comprises determining a target stimulation region based on estimated volumes of activation (VOAs) associated with electrical stimulations of a patient population. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein determining the target stimulation region comprises identifying VOAs in which the clinical effect is observed when the clinical effect is a therapeutic effect or in which the clinical effect is not observed when the clinical effect is a side effect. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters comprises adjusting, by the processor, an amplitude of the stimulation to produce the change in the clinical effect. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
 obtaining user input of a change in a clinical effect, wherein the clinical effect is either a therapeutic effect or a side effect;   determining a set of stimulation parameters to produce the change in the clinical effect; and   outputting the set of stimulation parameters to stimulate the patient.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters comprises determining a target stimulation region based on estimated volumes of activation (VOAs) associated with electrical stimulations of a patient population. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein determining the target stimulation region comprises identifying VOAs in which the clinical effect is observed when the clinical effect is a therapeutic effect or in which the clinical effect is not observed when the clinical effect is a side effect. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein determining the set of stimulation parameters comprises adjusting, by the processor, an amplitude of the stimulation to produce the change in the clinical effect.