Systems and methods for treating sexual disorders using electro-stimulation
First Claim
1. A method of treating a sexual disorder, the method comprising:
- placing an array of electrodes adjacent a prostate or where a native prostate was located prior to prostatectomy, the array of electrodes disposed on at least one flat flexible substrate;
selectively activating subsets of the array of electrodes to empirically determine an identity of a subset of the array of electrodes comprising the at least one electrode;
storing the identity of the empirically determined subset of the array of electrodes; and
supplying electrical stimulation via the empirically determined subset of the array of electrodes to stimulate a pelvic plexus and thereby at least one cavernous nerve to cause an erection.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for treating a sexual disorder such as erectile dysfunction (ED) or female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD). An electrical stimulation system may include an implantable stimulation unit, an external patient controller, and an external physician controller. The implantable stimulation unit has an array of electrodes disposed on one or more flexible substrates configured to conform to a patient'"'"'s anatomy at the pelvic plexus. Post-implantation, the physician controller may direct the stimulation unit to stimulate with select electrode(s) of the array to determine which electrode configuration provides optimal sexual arousal. The patient controller may be used to cause the stimulation unit to stimulate using the optimal electrode configuration at desired times.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method of treating a sexual disorder, the method comprising:
-
placing an array of electrodes adjacent a prostate or where a native prostate was located prior to prostatectomy, the array of electrodes disposed on at least one flat flexible substrate; selectively activating subsets of the array of electrodes to empirically determine an identity of a subset of the array of electrodes comprising the at least one electrode; storing the identity of the empirically determined subset of the array of electrodes; and supplying electrical stimulation via the empirically determined subset of the array of electrodes to stimulate a pelvic plexus and thereby at least one cavernous nerve to cause an erection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification