Methods for stimulating a dorsal root ganglion

• US 20060052839A1
• 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 7,502,651 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 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 stimulating a dorsal root ganglion, comprising:

implanting an electrode in proximity to the dorsal root ganglion; and

activating the electrode to stimulate a portion of the dorsal root ganglion.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

forming an opening in the dorsal root ganglion epinurium; and

passing the electrode through the opening.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

forming an opening in a proximal portion of a spinal nerve root; and

passing the electrode through the opening.

4. The method according to claim 1 the activating step further comprising coupling a programmable electrical signal to the electrode.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode in proximity to the dorsal root ganglion comprises implanting an electrode adjacent the dorsal root ganglion epinurium.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode in proximity to the dorsal root ganglion comprises implanting an electrode inside the epinurium of the dorsal root ganglion.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode in proximity to the dorsal root ganglion comprises implanting an electrode within the dorsal root ganglion interfascicular.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode in proximity to the dorsal root ganglion comprises implanting an electrode on or within the dorsal root ganglion epineurium.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode in proximity to the dorsal root ganglion comprises implanting an electrode in contact with the dorsal root ganglion epinurium.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein activating the electrode to stimulate comprises activating the electrode to selectively stimulate sensory nerves.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein activating the electrode to stimulate comprises activating the electrode to stimulate sensory nerves without stimulating motor nerves.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein activating the electrode to stimulate comprises activating the electrode to stimulate at a level that preferentially stimulates myelinated fibers over unmyelinated fibers.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

releasing a pharmacological agent from the electrode.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein the releasing step is performed before the activating step.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the releasing step is performed after the activating step.

16. The method according to claim 13 wherein the releasing step is performed during the activating step.

17. The method according to claim 13 wherein the pharmacological agent is pharmacologically active in the dorsal root ganglion during the activation step.

18. The method according to claim 13 wherein releasing a pharmacological agent comprises releasing a pharmacological agent selected from the group consisting of:

anti-inflammatory agents, opiates, COX inhibitors, PGE2 inhibitors, and other suitable agents to prevent pathological pain changes after surgery.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode comprises implanting two or more electrodes into a single spinal level.

20. The method according to claim 1 wherein implanting an electrode comprises implanting at least one electrode on two or more spinal levels.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein at least two of the two or more spinal levels are adjacent to one another.

22. The method according to claim 1 wherein the implanting step comprises piercing the dorsal root ganglion epinurium.

23. The method according to claim 1 wherein a portion of the electrode is coated with a pharmacological agent.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the pharmacological agent is selected from the group consisting of:

anti-inflammatory agents, opiates, COX inhibitors, PGE2 inhibitors, and other suitable agents to prevent pathological pain changes after surgery.

25. The method according to claim 23 wherein the pharmacological agent prevents fibrous growth around the electrode.