Methods and systems for stimulating a nerve originating in an upper cervical spine area to treat a medical condition

• US 20050154419A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Jaax, Kristen N., Whitehurst, Todd K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,172 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Methods of treating a medical condition of a patient include applying at least one stimulus to a target nerve within the patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The target nerve may include any nerve originating in an upper cervical spine area of the patient or a branch of any nerve originating in the upper cervical spine area of the patient. Systems for treating a medical condition of a patient include a system control unit that is implanted within the patient and that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to the target nerve within the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

Claims

1. A method of treating a medical condition of a patient, said method comprising:

applying at least one stimulus to a target nerve within said patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters;

wherein said stimulus is configured to treat said medical condition and said target nerve comprises a nerve originating in an upper cervical spine area of said patient or a branch of said nerve originating in said upper cervical spine area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said target nerve comprises at least one or more of a greater occipital nerve, a lesser occipital nerve, a third occipital nerve, a greater auricular nerve, a transverse cervical nerve, and a supraclavicular nerve.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling said system control unit to said target nerve.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises one or more drugs delivered to said target nerve.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said target nerve and a stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said target nerve.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one indicator related to said medical condition and using said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit comprises a micro stimulator.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit has dimensions substantially equal to or less than three cubic centimeters.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said medical condition includes at least one or more of a cerebrovascular disease, an autoimmune disease, a sleep disorder, an autonomic disorder, a urinary bladder disorder, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, a muscular system disorder, and a neuropsychiatric disorder.

11. A system for treating a medical condition of a patient, said system comprising:

a system control unit configured to apply at least one stimulus to a target nerve within said patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, said stimulus configured to treat said medical condition;

wherein said system control unit is implanted within said patient, and wherein said target nerve comprises a nerve originating in an upper cervical spine area of said patient or a branch of said nerve originating in said upper cervical spine area.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said target nerve comprises at least one or more of a greater occipital nerve, a lesser occipital nerve, a third occipital nerve, a greater auricular nerve, a transverse cervical nerve, and a supraclavicular nerve.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said system control unit is coupled directly to said target nerve.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said stimulus comprises stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said target nerve.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said target nerve and one or more drugs delivered to said target nerve.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a sensor device for sensing at least one indicator related to said medical condition;

wherein said system control unit uses said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said system control unit comprises a micro stimulator.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein said system control unit has dimensions substantially equal to or less than three cubic centimeters.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein said medical condition includes at least one or more of a cerebrovascular disease, an autoimmune disease, a sleep disorder, an autonomic disorder, a urinary bladder disorder, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, a muscular system disorder, and a neuropsychiatric disorder.

21. A system for treating a medical condition of a patient, said system comprising:

means for applying at least one stimulus to a target nerve within said patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters;

wherein said stimulus is configured to treat said medical condition and said target nerve comprises a nerve originating in an upper cervical spine area of said patient or a branch of said nerve originating in said upper cervical spine area.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.