Controller interface for an implantable stimulator device

1. A computer-assisted method to configure settings on an implanted stimulator device, the method comprising:

presenting configuration options to a user of the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator, the stimulation parameters comprising polarity setting such that presenting configuration options to the user of the implanted stimulator device comprises presenting configuration options that include a polarity setting of each electrode of the implanted stimulator device;

receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options;

receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device;

building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options as well as the corresponding quantitative index of pain; and

selecting at least one configuration option based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein building a user profile for the user comprises building a user profile that includes the polarity setting of each electrode that gives rise to the corresponding quantitative index of pain.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein selecting at least one configuration option further comprises selecting a polarity setting for at least one of the electrodes of the implanted stimulator device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation parameters comprise pulse rate, pulse width, and pulse amplitude such that presenting configuration options comprises presenting configuration options that that include pulse rate, pulse width, and pulse amplitude.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: in response to determining that the quantitative index of pain is above a threshold level, prompting the user to change the configuration options.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein prompting the user to change the configuration options comprises presenting at least one configuration option based on the user profile.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: increasing, by an amount that is proportional to the quantitative index of pain, a pulse amplitude of stimulation pulses for application at a particular electrode.

8. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: in response to determining that the quantitative index of pain is below a threshold level, prompting the user to reduce stimulation.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein prompting the user to reduce stimulation comprises prompting the user to reduce stimulation by decreasing a pulse amplitude of stimulation pulses for application at a particular electrode.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting configuration options further comprises cycling through the each configuration option subject to user adjustment, the configuration options including the polarity setting of each electrode of the implanted stimulator device as well as pulse parameters of stimulation pulses for application at a particular electrode.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein building a user profile further comprises recording an adjustment in a configuration option made by the user that results in an improved quantitative index of pain.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein recording the adjustment in the configuration option includes recording an adjustment in a pulse parameter or a polarity setting.

13. A controller device to configure settings on an implanted stimulator device, the controller device comprising a processor configured to perform the operations of:

presenting configuration options to a user of the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator, the stimulation parameters comprising polarity setting such that presenting configuration options to the user of the implanted stimulator device comprises presenting configuration options that include a polarity setting of each electrode of the implanted stimulator device;

receiving a user specification of the configuration options in response to the presented configuration options;

receiving user feedback when the user specified configuration options are implemented at the implanted stimulator device, the user feedback comprising a quantitative index of pain resulting from implementing the user specified configuration options on the implanted stimulator device;

building a user profile for the user based on the user specified configuration options and the user feedback, the user profile including the user specified configuration options as well as the corresponding quantitative index of pain; and

selecting at least one configuration option based on the user profile when the configuration options are subsequently presented to the user for a later treatment.

14. The controller device of claim 13 , wherein building a user profile for the user comprises building a user profile that includes the polarity setting of each electrode that gives rise to the corresponding quantitative index of pain.

15. The controller device of claim 14 , wherein selecting at least one configuration option further comprises selecting a polarity setting for at least one of the electrodes of the implanted stimulator device.

16. The controller device of claim 13 , wherein the stimulation parameters comprise pulse rate, pulse width, and pulse amplitude such that presenting configuration options comprises presenting configuration options that that include pulse rate, pulse width, and pulse amplitude.

17. The controller device of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise: in response to determining that the quantitative index of pain is above a threshold level, prompting the user to change the configuration options.

18. The controller device of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise: further comprising in response to determining that the quantitative index of pain is below a threshold level, prompting the user to reduce stimulation.