Methods for stimulating the spinal cord and nervous system

• US 20060052835A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Kim, Daniel H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,450,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 Body-piercing guide needles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide stimulation systems, components and methods for stimulation of the spinal cord and the nervous system. Additional embodiments provide for selective stimulation and/or neuromodulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia through implantation of an electrode on, in or around a dorsal root ganglia. Some other embodiments of the present invention provide methods for selective neurostimulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia as well as techniques for applying neurostimulation to the spinal cord and nervous system. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide stimulation systems and components for selective stimulation and/or neuromodulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia through implantation of an electrode on, in or around a dorsal root ganglia in combination with a pharmacological agent.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating the spinal cord, comprising:

piercing the spinal dura matter; and

placing an electrode into contact with a portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord comprises the cuneate fascicle.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord comprises the gracile fascicle.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord comprises the corticospinal tract.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord controls pain from the upper extremities.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord controls pain from the lower extremities.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord includes an upper spinal cord pain pathway.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord includes a lower spinal cord pain pathway.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the portion of the intra-madullary of the spinal cord influences autonomic bladder stimulation.

10. A method of stimulating the nervous system, comprising:

implanting an electrode; and

activating the electrode to stimulate only a nerve root ganglion.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the nerve root ganglion is a dorsal root ganglion.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the nerve root ganglion is a nerve root ganglion within the sympathetic nervous system.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein implanting an electrode comprises implanting an electrode within a dorsal root ganglion.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein implanting an electrode comprises implanting an electrode within a nerve root ganglion within the sympathetic nervous system.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein implanting the electrode comprises passing a portion of the electrode completely through the nerve root ganglion.

16. A method according to claim 10 wherein implanting an electrode comprises implanting a plurality of electrodes;

and activating each of the plurality of electrodes to stimulate only a nerve root ganglion.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes stimulates only a dorsal root ganglion.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes stimulates only a nerve root ganglion within the sympathetic nervous system.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein at least one electrode unilaterally stimulates a spinal level.

20. A method according to claim 16 wherein at least one electrode bilaterally stimulates a spinal level.

21. A method according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged to stimulate more than one spinal level.

22. A method according to claim 16 wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged to bilaterally stimulate more than one spinal level.

23. A method according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes stimulates only a dorsal root ganglion and another one of the plurality of electrodes stimulates only a nerve root ganglion within the sympathetic nervous system.

24. A method of stimulating neural tissue to treat a condition, comprising:

stimulating an electrode implanted to stimulate only a dorsal root ganglion on a spinal level to treat the condition.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the spinal level comprises C1, C2 or C3 and the condition is a headache.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the headache is a migraine headache.