Adjustable simulation device and method of using same

• US 20050131506A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Sharan, Ashwini, Rezai, Ali R
• Granted Patent: US 7,715,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/117
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4494 data driven

Abstract

A device and method for stimulating neural tissue in a patient comprising: providing a lead having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween wherein the lead having at least one electrode provided thereon for delivering electrical stimulation; implanting the lead adjacent the neural tissue; applying electrical signals to the at least one electrode to provide electrical stimulation to the neural tissue; closing all incisions made to implant the lead so that the lead is completely implanted in the patient; and adjusting, at any time after the step of closing all the incisions, the position of the lead so that it moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lead.

Claims

1. An adjustable stimulation device comprising:

an elongated lead body having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, said lead body having at least one electrode for delivering electrical stimulation to targeted tissue;

a housing base having a structure for guiding the movement of said lead body relative to said housing base;

said lead body having a cooperating structure that is in sliding engagement with said housing base structure; and

a position control mechanism for permitting adjustment of the position of said lead body in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said lead body in situ.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said cooperating structure defines a groove extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said lead body and said structure comprises a tongue member extending from said housing base that engages said groove.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said cooperating structure comprises a pair of guide shoes where each of said guide shoes includes a first portion that extends from said bottom portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to said bottom portion and a second portion that extends from said first portion in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from said bottom portion.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said groove defines a T-shaped profile and said tongue member defines a corresponding T-shaped profile.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said structure defines a track disposed in said housing base and said cooperating structure comprises a rail extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said lead body that engages said channel.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said position control mechanism comprises a rack gear coupled to said lead body in a substantially perpendicular orientation and a pinion gear engaged with said rack gear such that rotation of said pinion gear causes rack gear to move in direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said pinion gear includes a hexagonal recess for receiving a hexagonal-tipped needle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said position control mechanism comprises a belt having said lead body disposed thereon wherein said belt is in rolling engagement with a plurality of rollers, a first bevel gear coupled to one of said plurality of rollers, and a second bevel gear engaged with said first bevel gear such that rotation of said second bevel gear causes said first bevel gear to rotate thereby moving said belt and said lead body in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said second bevel gear includes a hexagonal recess for receiving a hexagonal-tipped needle.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing cover releasably secured to said housing base, said housing cover comprising a plurality of electrically conductive panels having a top surface and a bottom surface, each of said plurality of electrically conductive panels is surrounded by an electrically insulated frame.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein a top surface of said electrode is in electrical contact with said bottom surface of at least a portion of said plurality of electrically conductive panels such that said panels in electrical contact with said electrode are electrically active when said electrode is electrically active.

12. A method of stimulating a spinal cord in a patient comprising:

providing a lead having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, said lead having at least one electrode provided thereon for delivering electrical stimulation;

implanting said lead adjacent the dorsal side of a spinal cord such that said longitudinal axis of said lead is oriented substantially parallel to the midline of said spinal cord;

applying electrical signals to said at least one electrode to provide electrical stimulation to said spinal cord;

closing all incisions made to implant said lead so that said lead is completely implanted in said patient; and

adjusting, at any time after the step of closing all the incisions, the position of said lead in situ so that it moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the midline of said spinal cord.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of adjusting is accomplished by a position control mechanism wherein said position control mechanism comprises a rack gear disposed on said lead in a substantially perpendicular orientation and a pinion gear engaged with said rack gear such that rotation of said pinion gear causes rack gear to move in direction substantially perpendicular to said midline of said spinal cord.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said pinion gear includes a hexagonal shaped head thereby enabling an operator to adjust the position of said lead in situ using a tool having a hexagonal shaped socket.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed in a columnar fashion along said longitudinal axis.

16. A method of stimulating neural tissue comprising:

providing a lead having opposed first and second ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, said lead having at least one electrode provided thereon for delivering electrical stimulation;

implanting said lead adjacent neural tissue;

applying electrical signals to said at least one electrode to provide electrical stimulation to said neural tissue;

closing all incisions made to implant said lead so that said lead is completely implanted in said patient; and

adjusting, at any time after the step of closing all the incisions, the position of said lead so that it moves in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said lead.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting is accomplished by a position control mechanism wherein said position control mechanism comprises a rack gear disposed on said lead in a substantially perpendicular orientation and a pinion gear engaged with said rack gear such that rotation of said pinion gear causes rack gear to move in direction substantially perpendicular to said lead.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said pinion gear includes a hexagonal shaped head thereby enabling an operator to adjust the position of said lead in situ using a tool having a hexagonal shaped socket.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed in a columnar fashion along said longitudinal axis.

20. An adjustable stimulation device comprising:

a lead body having opposed first and second ends defining an axis therebetween, said lead body having at least one electrode disposed thereon for delivering electrical stimulation to targeted tissue; and

a position control mechanism for permitting adjustment of the position of said lead body in a direction substantially perpendicular to said axis of said lead body in situ.