Seamless integration of different programming modes for a neurostimulator programming system

1. A system for programming a neurostimulation device coupled to a plurality of electrodes, comprising:

a user interface including a programming selection control element configured for allowing a user to select one of two different programming modes for the neurostimulation device;

processing circuitry configured for defining a first electrode configuration corresponding to the first programming mode, selecting the second programming mode in response to actuation of the programming selection control element, and defining a second electrode configuration based on the first electrode configuration in response to the selection of the second programming mode, the second electrode configuration corresponding to the second programming mode; and

control circuitry configured for generating a stimulation parameter set corresponding to the second electrode configuration, and instructing the neurostimulation device to convey electrical energy to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the stimulation parameter set.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode configuration is not a valid electrode configuration for the second programming mode.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode configuration approximates the first electrode configuration.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second electrode configurations is a fractionalized electrode configuration.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first programming mode is one of a manual programming mode and a semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the other of the manual programming mode and the semi-automated programming mode.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured for defining a virtual multipole relative to the plurality of electrodes when programming the neurostimulation device in the semi-automated mode, and computing amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the virtual multipole, wherein the stimulation parameter set includes the computed amplitude values.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the semi-automated programming mode is configured for panning the virtual multipole across the plurality of electrodes.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the virtual multipole includes at least one anode and a cathode, and the semi-automated programming mode is configured for displacing the at least one anode relative to the cathode as the cathode is gradually displaced across the plurality of electrodes.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first programming mode is the manual programming mode, and the second programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured for defining the second electrode configuration by:

computing a centroid of cathodic current of the first electrode configuration;

defining a virtual multipole having a virtual cathode located at the centroid of the cathodic current; and

computing current amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulates the virtual multipole, thereby defining the second electrode configuration.

11. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the manual programming mode.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first electrode configuration and the second electrode configuration are identical.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first programming mode is a first semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is a second semi-automated programming mode.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second semi-automated programming mode has a limited number of electrode configurations, wherein defining the second electrode configuration comprises selecting one of the limited number of electrode configurations that best matches the first electrode configuration, thereby defining the second electrode configuration.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured for, prior to defining the second electrode configuration, gradually adjusting at least one stimulation parameter from a first value corresponding to the first electrode configuration to a second value corresponding to the second electrode configuration.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises an electrical stimulation field focus.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising telemetry circuitry, wherein the control circuitry is configured for transmitting the stimulation parameter set to the neurostimulation device via the telemetry circuitry.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing containing the user interface, the processing circuitry, and the control circuitry.

19. A method of programming a neurostimulation device coupled to a plurality of electrodes implanted adjacent tissue of a patient, comprising:

defining a first electrode configuration corresponding to a first mode of programming the neurostimulation device;

selecting a second programming mode of programming the neurostimulation device different from the first programming mode;

defining a second electrode configuration based on the first electrode configuration in response to the selection of the second programming mode; and

programming the neurostimulation device using the second programming mode.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first electrode configuration is not a valid electrode configuration for the second programming mode.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second electrode configuration approximates the first electrode configuration.

22. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the first and second electrode configurations is a fractionalized electrode configuration.

23. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first programming mode is one of a manual programming mode and a semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the other of the manual programming mode and the semi-automated programming mode.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising:

defining a virtual multipole relative to the plurality of electrodes when programming the neurostimulation device in the semi-automated mode; and

computing amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulate the virtual multipole.

25. The method of claim 23 , wherein the semi-automated programming mode is configured for panning the virtual multipole across the plurality of electrodes.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the virtual multipole includes at least one anode and a cathode, and the semi-automated programming mode is configured for displacing the at least one anode relative to the cathode as the cathode is gradually displaced across the plurality of electrodes.

27. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first programming mode is the manual programming mode, and the second programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein defining the second electrode configuration comprises:

computing a centroid of cathodic current of the first electrode configuration;

defining a virtual multipole having a virtual cathode located at the centroid of the cathodic current; and

computing current amplitude values for the plurality of electrodes that emulates the virtual multipole, thereby defining the second electrode configuration.

29. The method of claim 23 , wherein the first programming mode is the semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is the manual programming mode.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the first electrode configuration and the second electrode configuration are identical.

31. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first programming mode is a first semi-automated programming mode, and the second programming mode is a second semi-automated programming mode.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the second semi-automated programming mode has a limited number of electrode configurations, wherein defining the second electrode configuration comprises selecting one of the limited number of electrode configurations that best matches the first electrode configuration, thereby defining the second electrode configuration.

33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising, prior to defining the second electrode configuration, gradually adjusting at least one stimulation parameter from a first value corresponding to the first electrode configuration to a second value corresponding to the second electrode configuration.

34. The method of claim 33 , wherein the at least one stimulation parameter comprises an electrical stimulation field focus.

35. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

applying electrical stimulation energy between the first electrode configuration and the tissue, and

applying electrical stimulation energy between the second electrode configuration and the tissue.

36. The method of claim 19 , wherein the neurostimulation device is implanted within the patient.

37. The method of claim 19 , wherein the tissue is spinal cord tissue.