Methods of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue

• US 20060052838A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Kim, Daniel H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,447,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• 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 methods of neurostimulating targeted neural tissues. Also described are 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. 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. 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 neurostimulating targeted neural tissue, comprising:

Implanting an electrode in a position adapted to neurostimulate only targeted neural tissue; and

Providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode.

2. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode in a position adapted to neurostimulate only targeted neural tissue comprises implanting the electrode into a nerve ganglion.

3. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode comprises activating the signal generator using a preset program.

4. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode comprises activating the signal generator using a dynamic program selected based on an input.

5. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue in the milliwatt range.

6. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue in the millijoule range.

7. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue in the microjoule range.

8. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue without raising the temperature of the targeted neural tissue more than 1 degree Celsius.

9. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 2 wherein implanting an electrode into a nerve ganglion comprises implanting an electrode into a dorsal root ganglion.

10. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 2 wherein implanting an electrode into a nerve ganglion comprises implanting an electrode into a nerve ganglion in the sympathetic nervous system.

11. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 4 wherein activating the signal generator using a dynamic program selected based on an input comprises an input provided from a sensor monitoring a parameter in the body.

12. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 4 wherein activating the signal generator using a dynamic program selected based on an input comprises an input provided by a person being stimulated by the electrode.

13. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 4 wherein activating the signal generator using a dynamic program selected based on an input comprises an input selected from a plurality of predetermined programs selected by a physician.

14. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 4 wherein activating the signal generator using a dynamic program selected based on an input comprises an input selected from a plurality of predetermined programs selected by a person being stimulated by the electrode.

15. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 13 wherein one of the predetermined programs is no stimulation.

16. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 14 wherein one of the predetermined programs is no stimulation.