IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,539,425
Granted Patent B2
US 12,539,425 · App. 18/049,960 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Therapy programming based on evoked compound action potentials

Inventors: Andrew L. Schmeling (Holmen, WI); Rebecca A. Miron (Center City, MN); Christopher J. Edwards (Mahtomedi, MN); David W. Simons (Edina, MN); Nikita Tandon (San Jose, CA); Reid K. Bornhoft (Lina Lakes, MN)
Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
A61N1/37247A61N1/36139A61N1/36071
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,539,425
App. No.
18/049,960
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and techniques for controlling electrical stimulation. In some examples, a computing device includes a therapy-management application configured to assist a user to: capture a representative evoked compound action potential (ECAP) signal from a patient based; apply one or more filters to the representative ECAP signal to select one or more parameters of the representative ECAP signal; and control electrical stimulation therapy based at least in part on the one or more parameters.

Claims (74)

1 . A method comprising:

determining, by processing circuitry, evoked compound action potential (ECAP) data indicative of a plurality of ECAPs based on signals sensed from a patient;

controlling, by the processing circuitry, a user interface to display the ECAP data over a time window;

identifying, by the processing circuitry, an ECAP amplitude in the ECAP data at a specific time in the time window, wherein the ECAP amplitude exceeds a threshold amplitude;

controlling, by the processing circuitry, the user interface to display a slidable marker that identifies the ECAP amplitude at the specific time over the displayed ECAP data, wherein the slidable marker is configured to be user-movable to different times within the time window; and

controlling, by the processing circuitry, the user interface to display an ECAP waveform corresponding to the ECAP amplitude identified by the slidable marker.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold amplitude comprises an absolute amplitude value or a predetermined multiple above a baseline-noise amplitude within the ECAP data.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether the ECAP data satisfies minimum criteria for containing a usable ECAP of the plurality of ECAPs for determining subsequent ECAP data; and

displaying, via the user interface, an indication that the ECAP data includes the usable ECAP.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the slidable marker is configured to be user-movable to the different times within the time window, and wherein the different times within the time window indicate respective ones of the plurality of ECAPs.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a change in an amplitude of an electrical stimulation signal associated with the plurality of ECAPs during the time window; and

outputting, via the user interface, an indication that the ECAP data should be re-captured.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying, by the processing circuitry via the user interface, a graphical user interface (GUI) of a therapy-management application, wherein the GUI comprises a plurality of screens comprising:

a select-device screen;

a select-flow screen;

an electrode-placement screen;

a capture-signal screen;

a review-signal screen; and

a configure-thresholds screen.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the electrode-placement screen comprises:

a Program-1 widget enabling a user to select first placements for first sensing electrodes and first stimulation electrodes relative to a representation of a spinal cord of the patient, and a first stimulation amplitude for a first stimulation therapy program associated with the first stimulation electrodes;

a Program-2 widget enabling the user to select second placements for second sensing electrodes and second stimulation electrodes relative to the representation of the spinal cord, and a second stimulation amplitude for a second stimulation therapy program associated with the second stimulation electrodes; and

a “Setup” button for actuating the capture-signal screen.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the review-signal screen comprises a signal-quality graph comprising:

the ECAP waveform;

a low-point detection window indicating a local minimum amplitude of the ECAP waveform;

a high-point detection window indicating a local maximum amplitude of the ECAP waveform; and

a vertical range indicating a difference between the local maximum amplitude and the local minimum, wherein the difference equals the identified ECAP amplitude within the ECAP data.

9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the review-signal screen further comprises a plurality of filter options for modifying the ECAP waveform.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

receiving selections for the plurality of filter options;

determining a filtered ECAP waveform based on the selections; and

configuring, based on the filtered ECAP waveform, ECAP parameters for determining subsequent ECAP data.

11 . A system comprising:

a memory; and

processing circuitry coupled to the memory and configured to:

determine evoked compound action potential (ECAP) data indicative of a plurality of ECAPs based on signals sensed from a patient;

control a user interface to display the ECAP data over a time window;

identify an ECAP amplitude in the ECAP data at a specific time in the time window, wherein the ECAP amplitude exceeds a threshold amplitude;

control the user interface to display a slidable marker that identifies the ECAP amplitude at the specific time over the displayed ECAP data, wherein the slidable marker is configured to be user-movable to different times within the time window; and

control the user interface to display an ECAP waveform corresponding to the ECAP amplitude identified by the slidable marker.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the threshold amplitude comprises an absolute amplitude value or a predetermined multiple above a baseline-noise amplitude within the ECAP data.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configure configured to:

determine whether the ECAP data satisfies minimum criteria for containing a usable ECAP of the plurality of ECAPs for determining subsequent ECAP data; and

control a display device to displaying, via the user interface, an indication that the ECAP data includes the usable ECAP.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the slidable marker is configured to be user-movable to the different times within the time window, and wherein the different times within the time window indicate respective ones of the plurality of ECAPs.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processing circuitry is configure configured to:

determine a change in an amplitude of an electrical stimulation signal associated with the plurality of ECAPs during the time window; and

output, via the user interface, an indication that the ECAP data should be re-captured.

16 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a display device, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to control the display device to display, via the user interface, a graphical user interface (GUI) of a therapy-management application, wherein the GUI comprises a plurality of screens comprising:

a select-device screen;

a select-flow screen;

an electrode-placement screen;

a capture-signal screen;

a review-signal screen; and

a configure-thresholds screen.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the electrode-placement screen comprises:

a Program-1 widget enabling a user to select first placements for first sensing electrodes and first stimulation electrodes relative to a representation of a spinal cord of the patient, and a first stimulation amplitude for a first stimulation therapy program associated with the first stimulation electrodes;

a Program-2 widget enabling the user to select second placements for second sensing electrodes and second stimulation electrodes relative to the representation of the spinal cord, and a second stimulation amplitude for a second stimulation therapy program associated with the second stimulation electrodes; and

a “Setup” button for actuating the capture-signal screen.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the review-signal screen comprises a signal-quality graph comprising:

the ECAP waveform;

a low-point detection window indicating a local minimum amplitude of the ECAP waveform;

a high-point detection window indicating a local maximum amplitude of the ECAP waveform; and

a vertical range indicating a difference between the local maximum amplitude and the local minimum, wherein the difference equals the identified ECAP amplitude within the ECAP data.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the review-signal screen further comprises a plurality of filter options for modifying the ECAP waveform.

20 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine evoked compound action potential (ECAP) data indicative of a plurality of ECAPs based on signals sensed from a patient;

control a user interface to display the ECAP data over a time window;

identify an ECAP amplitude in the ECAP data at a specific time in the time window, wherein the ECAP amplitude exceeds a threshold amplitude;

control the user interface to display a slidable marker that identifies the ECAP amplitude at the specific time over the displayed ECAP data, wherein the slidable marker is configured to be user-movable to different times within the time window; and

control the user interface to display an ECAP waveform corresponding to the ECAP amplitude identified by the slidable marker.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2022
From: SCHMELING, ANDREW L.; BORNHOFT, REID K.; MIRON, REBECCA A.; EDWARDS, CHRISTOPHER; TANDON, NIKITA; SIMONS, DAVID
To: MEDTRONIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 063817/0456 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63280976 · Nov 18, 2021
Provisional Application 63280967 · Nov 18, 2021
Related Publication 20230149722A1 · May 18, 2023
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