Methods and implantable apparatus for electrical therapy
First Claim
1. An implantable neurostimulator adapted to treat pain, comprising:
- a body-implantable first electrode including an elongate, flexible first conductor, a flexible, biocompatible first dielectric, and two exposed electrical contacts spaced from one another by at least about 3 cm along a length of the first electrode, the contacts being configured to deliver electrical stimulation to target tissue in which the first electrode is implanted;
a body-implantable second electrode including an elongate, flexible second conductor, a flexible, biocompatible second dielectric, and two exposed electrical contacts spaced from one another by at least about 3 cm along a length of the second electrode, the contacts being configured to deliver electrical stimulation to target tissue in which the second electrode is implanted, the second electrode being implantable at a location spaced at least about 5 cm from the first electrode; and
a common pulse system associated with the first and second electrodes, the pulse system being configured to deliver a current of at least about 0.6 mA to the first and second electrodes in a waveform efficacious to reduce a sensation of pain in nerves positioned at a location in the target tissue spaced from the first lead and from the second lead.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention provide electrical therapy by delivering electrical pulses through at least one (and in some embodiments two or more) subcutaneously implanted electrode to stimulate one or more target nerves in a selected volume of tissue. Unlike conventional peripheral nerve stimulation or spinal column stimulation, there is no need to position the electrodes in direct contact with a specific nerve or the spinal column. Instead, the electrode can be implanted at an indeterminate distance from the target nerve. Other embodiments provide implantable neurostimulators with a pair of electrodes which can be connected to a common pulse system. Each electrodes may include two or more contacts spaced 3 cm or more from one another and the electrodes are implantable at distances of 5 cm or more apart. The common pulse system may also be implantable.
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Citations
88 Claims
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1. An implantable neurostimulator adapted to treat pain, comprising:
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a body-implantable first electrode including an elongate, flexible first conductor, a flexible, biocompatible first dielectric, and two exposed electrical contacts spaced from one another by at least about 3 cm along a length of the first electrode, the contacts being configured to deliver electrical stimulation to target tissue in which the first electrode is implanted;
a body-implantable second electrode including an elongate, flexible second conductor, a flexible, biocompatible second dielectric, and two exposed electrical contacts spaced from one another by at least about 3 cm along a length of the second electrode, the contacts being configured to deliver electrical stimulation to target tissue in which the second electrode is implanted, the second electrode being implantable at a location spaced at least about 5 cm from the first electrode; and
a common pulse system associated with the first and second electrodes, the pulse system being configured to deliver a current of at least about 0.6 mA to the first and second electrodes in a waveform efficacious to reduce a sensation of pain in nerves positioned at a location in the target tissue spaced from the first lead and from the second lead. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An implantable neurostimulator, comprising:
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a body-implantable first electrode comprising an elongate first body carrying a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first and second contacts being spaced from one another by 3-15 cm along a length of the first body, each of the first and second contacts being exposed for electrical contact with target tissue in which the first electrode is implanted;
a body-implantable second electrode comprising an elongate second body carrying a third electrical contact and a fourth electrical contact, the third and fourth contacts being spaced from one another by 3-15 cm along a length of the second body, each of the third and fourth contacts being exposed for electrical contact with the target tissue in which the second electrode is implanted; and
an implantable pulse system being configured to deliver electrical pulses to the first electrode and to the second electrode in a controlled waveform selected to stimulate nerves positioned at a location in the target tissue spaced from the first lead and from the second lead. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of delivering electrical therapy to a recipient, comprising:
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identifying a target volume of the recipient'"'"'s body, the target volume including at least one target nerve positioned outside the patient'"'"'s epidural space;
subcutaneously implanting a flexible first electrode having spaced-apart first and second contacts, the first and second contacts being positioned within the target volume at an indeterminate distance from the target nerve; and
electrically stimulating the target nerve by delivering a series of electrical pulses to the first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of delivering electrical therapy to a recipient, comprising:
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identifying a target volume of the recipient'"'"'s body, the target volume including at least one target nerve positioned outside the patient'"'"'s epidural space;
subcutaneously implanting a flexible first electrode with a first contact within the target volume at an indeterminate distance from the target nerve;
subcutaneously implanting a flexible second electrode with a second contact within the target volume at an indeterminate distance from the target nerve, but with the second contact spaced at least about 5 cm from the first contact;
coupling the first electrode and the second electrode to a common pulse system; and
electrically stimulating the target nerve by generating an electrical field between the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method of electrically stimulating a plurality of nerves distributed in a target volume of a recipient'"'"'s body, comprising:
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subcutaneously implanting a first electrode at a first location, the first electrode defining at least two first electrical contact sites within the target volume spaced along the length of the first electrode;
subcutaneously implanting a second electrode at a second location, the second electrode defining at least two second electrical contact sites within the target volume spaced along the length of the second electrode, the contact sites of the second electrode being spaced at least about 5 cm from the contact sites of the first electrode;
coupling the first electrode and the second electrode to a common pulse system;
subcutaneously implanting the pulse system in the recipient'"'"'s body; and
electrically stimulating the plurality of nerves by delivering electrical pulses to the first and second electrodes via the pulse system. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A method of delivering electrical therapy to a recipient, comprising:
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subcutaneously implanting an elongate first electrode at a location extending on a first side of the recipient'"'"'s spinal column at a location outside the epidural space, the first electrode including a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being spaced at least 3 cm from the first contact; and
electrically stimulating nerves in the patient'"'"'s back by delivering electrical pulses to the first and second contacts. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A method of delivering electrical therapy to a recipient, comprising:
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subcutaneously implanting an elongate first electrode at a location extending on a first side of the recipient'"'"'s spinal column at a location outside the epidural space, the first electrode including a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being spaced at least 3 cm from the first contact;
subcutaneously implanting an elongate second electrode at a location extending on a second side of the recipient'"'"'s spinal column at a location outside the epidural space, the second electrode including a third contact and a fourth contact, the fourth contact being spaced at least 3 cm from the third contact, the second side being different from the first side and the third and fourth contacts being spaced from each of the first and second contacts by at least about 5 cm; and
electrically stimulating nerves in the patient'"'"'s back by delivering electrical pulses to the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A method of electrically treating a wound, comprising:
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subcutaneously implanting a first electrode along a first side of the wound;
subcutaneously implanting a second electrode along a second side of the wound opposite the first side of the wound;
coupling the first and second electrodes to a common pulse system; and
electrically stimulating nerves in a tissue volume including the wound by delivering electrical pulses to the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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Specification