Optimal electrode contact polarity configurations for implantable stimulation systems

1 . A system for treating a patient with a medical condition, said system comprising:

a lead having an array of electrode contacts each being programmable to have either a first polarity or a second polarity; and

a programming device configured to test a multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations in which a programmed polarity of one or more of said electrode contacts is varied.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said programming device is further configured to select an optimal electrode contact polarity configuration out of said multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a stimulator configured to apply a stimulation current to a stimulation site in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters using said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said programming device is further configured to:

test a multiplicity of different sets of said stimulation parameters;

select an optimal set of said stimulation parameters out of said multiplicity of different sets of stimulation parameters; and

signal to said stimulator to apply said stimulation current according to said optimal set of stimulation parameters;

wherein each set of said stimulation parameters comprises different values for at least one or more of a frequency, pulse width, amplitude, burst pattern, duty cycle, ramp on time, and ramp off time of said stimulation current.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said programming device is configured to select said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration by:

signaling said stimulator to apply a stimulus to said stimulation site with each of said multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations; and

selecting said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration based on at least one or more of an optimal response of said stimulation site to said stimulus and a maximum amount of relief from said medical condition from said stimulation current.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said stimulation site comprises at least one or more of an occipital nerve and a trigeminal nerve.

7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said stimulation current comprises at least one or more of a monopolar stimulation current and a multipolar stimulation current.

8 . The system of claim 3 , wherein said programming device is included within said stimulator.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said medical condition comprises at least one or more of a headache, occipital neuralgia, facial pain, and Bells palsy.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein said programming device comprises at least one or more of a clinician programming system and a hand held programmer.

11 . A method of using an implantable stimulator system, said method comprising:

implanting a lead in communication with a stimulation site, said lead having an array of electrode contacts disposed thereon for applying a stimulation current to said stimulation site, each electrode contact being programmable to have either a first polarity or a second polarity;

testing a multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations in which a programmed polarity of one or more of said electrode contacts is varied;

selecting an optimal electrode contact polarity configuration out of said multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations; and

applying said stimulation current via said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration to said stimulation site in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

testing a multiplicity of different sets of said stimulation parameters;

selecting an optimal set of said stimulation parameters out of said multiplicity of different sets of stimulation parameters; and

applying said stimulus to said stimulation site according to said optimal set of said stimulation parameters;

wherein each of said sets of said stimulation parameters comprises different values for at least one or more of a frequency, pulse width, amplitude, burst pattern, duty cycle, ramp on time, and ramp off time of said stimulus.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said selecting said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration comprises:

selecting said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration based on at least one or more of an optimal response to said stimulation current by said stimulation site and a maximum amount of relief from a medical condition resulting from said stimulation current.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using said stimulator system to treat at least one or more of a headache, occipital neuralgia, facial pain, and Bells palsy.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said stimulation site comprises at least one or more of an occipital nerve and a trigeminal nerve.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said first polarity comprises an anodic polarity and said second polarity comprises a cathodic polarity.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said stimulation current comprises at least one or more of a monopolar stimulation current and a multipolar stimulation current.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising automatically performing said steps of testing of said multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations and selecting said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration with a processor.

19 . A system for treating a patient with a medical condition, said system comprising:

a lead having an array of electrode contacts disposed thereon for applying a stimulation current to a stimulation site, each electrode contact being programmable to have either a first polarity or a second polarity;

means for testing a multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations in which a programmed polarity of one or more of said electrode contacts is varied;

means for selecting an optimal electrode contact polarity configuration out of said multiplicity of different electrode contact polarity configurations; and

means for applying said stimulation current via said optimal electrode contact polarity configuration to said stimulation site in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

means for testing a multiplicity of different sets of said stimulation parameters;

means for selecting an optimal set of said stimulation parameters out of said multiplicity of different sets of stimulation parameters; and

means for applying said stimulation current to said stimulation site according to said optimal set of said stimulation parameters;

wherein each of said sets of said stimulation parameters comprises different values for at least one or more of a frequency, pulse width, amplitude, burst pattern, duty cycle, ramp on time, and ramp off time of said stimulation current.