Controller interface for an implantable stimulator device

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

presenting, on a display of the external controller device and to a user of the implanted stimulator device, configuration options of the implanted stimulator device as well as positioning arrangements of the external controller device relative to the implanted stimulator device, the configuration options comprising stimulation parameters for the implanted stimulator device, and the positioning arrangements comprising reference images of the implanted stimulator device and a body area where the stimulator device is implanted;

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

receiving a user adjustment of a position of the external controller device with respect to the implanted stimulator device;

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, and for each user specified configuration option, a corresponding position arrangement of the external controller device with respect to the implanted stimulator device, as well as a corresponding quantitative index of pain; and

selecting at least one configuration option with the corresponding positioning arrangement 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 presenting positioning arrangements comprises:

presenting the reference images of the implanted stimulator device and the body area where the stimulator device is implanted on a display of the external controller device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference images comprise at least one fluoroscopic image of an implantation site showing the implanted stimulator device as a radio opaque object underneath the body area where the stimulator device is implanted.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display is dynamically updated after the user's adjustment of the position of the external controller device with respect to the implanted stimulator device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the display presents four quadrants for the references images and a dynamic update after the user's adjustment.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation parameters comprise polarity settings.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein 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.

8. The method of claim 7 , 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.

9. The method of claim 8 , 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.

10. 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.

11. The method of claim 10 , 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.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein prompting the user to change the configuration options comprises presenting at least one configuration option based on the user profile.

13. The method of claim 12 , 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.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: in response to determining that the quantitative index of pain is below a threshold level, prompting the user to reduce stimulation.

15. The method of claim 14 , 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.

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

17. 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.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein recording the adjustment in the configuration option includes recording an adjustment in a pulse parameter or a polarity setting.