Combination electrical stimulating and infusion medical device and method
First Claim
1. A combined electrical and chemical stimulation device especially adapted for inserting within an intervertebral disc for treatment of target tissue therein, said device comprising:
- a stimulation lead having an elongate, tubular configuration, and a first lumen extending therethrough;
a plurality of first infusion ports communicating with said first lumen, said first infusion ports enabling infusion of chemicals/nutrients from the first lumen to tissue located exterior of said stimulation lead;
a second lumen extending through said stimulation lead and spaced from said first lumen, said second lumen terminating at a location on said stimulation lead between a proximal and a distal end of said stimulation lead, said first lumen extending beyond said first lumen toward said distal end of said stimulation lead;
a plurality of second infusion ports communicating with said second lumen, said second infusion port enabling infusion of chemicals/nutrients from the second lumen to tissue located exterior of said stimulation lead; and
a plurality of electrodes positioned on said stimulation lead and between said first and second infusion ports, said electrodes communicating with a source of electrical energy for providing electrical stimulation of tissue adjacent said electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to intervertebral discs. The combination lead may be placed proximate to intervertebral disc cellular matrix and nucleus pulposus tissue to promote tissue regeneration and repair, as well as nociceptor and neural tissue modulation. The stimulation lead includes electrodes that may be selectively positioned along various portions of the stimulation lead in order to precisely direct electrical energy to stimulate the target tissue. The lead also includes a central infusion passageway or lumen that communicates with various infusion ports spaced at selected locations along the lead to thereby direct the infusion of nutrients/chemicals to the target tissue. One embodiment utilizes a dissolvable matrix for infusion as opposed to remote delivery through an infusion pump.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A combined electrical and chemical stimulation device especially adapted for inserting within an intervertebral disc for treatment of target tissue therein, said device comprising:
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a stimulation lead having an elongate, tubular configuration, and a first lumen extending therethrough;
a plurality of first infusion ports communicating with said first lumen, said first infusion ports enabling infusion of chemicals/nutrients from the first lumen to tissue located exterior of said stimulation lead;
a second lumen extending through said stimulation lead and spaced from said first lumen, said second lumen terminating at a location on said stimulation lead between a proximal and a distal end of said stimulation lead, said first lumen extending beyond said first lumen toward said distal end of said stimulation lead;
a plurality of second infusion ports communicating with said second lumen, said second infusion port enabling infusion of chemicals/nutrients from the second lumen to tissue located exterior of said stimulation lead; and
a plurality of electrodes positioned on said stimulation lead and between said first and second infusion ports, said electrodes communicating with a source of electrical energy for providing electrical stimulation of tissue adjacent said electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A combined electrical and chemical stimulation device especially adapted for inserting within an intervertebral disc for treatment of target tissue therein, said device comprising:
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a stimulation lead having an elongate, tubular configuration, and a central lumen extending therethrough;
a plurality of infusion ports communicating with said central lumen, said infusion ports enabling infusion of chemicals/nutrients from the central lumen to tissue located exterior of said stimulation lead;
a plurality of electrodes positioned on said stimulation lead and spaced between said infusion ports, said electrodes communicating with a source of electrical energy for providing electrical stimulation of tissue adjacent said electrodes; and
an inflatable member attached to said stimulation lead, said inflatable member communicating with a source of fluid for selectively inflating said inflatable member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A stimulation device especially adapted for inserting within an intervertebral disc for treatment of target tissue therein, said device comprising:
a stimulation lead having an elongate, substantially tubular configuration, wherein said stimulation lead is made of a matrix material including nutrients and medications intermixed therewith, said matrix being dissolvable within the intervertebral disc to deliver the medication and nutrients to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of managing intervertebral disc pain, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a stimulation lead having a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of infusion ports, said electrodes and said infusion ports being selectively spaced and arranged with one another, said plurality of infusion ports communicating with a plurality of lumens extending through said stimulation lead, each lumen of said plurality of lumens capable of delivering a selected chemical therethrough;
implanting the stimulation lead in the disc so that the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of infusion ports lie adjacent to a targeted area within the disc;
delivering electrical energy from the electrodes to the disc;
delivering at least one chemical through the infusion ports into the disc; and
wherein the electrical energy and chemical are especially selected to remediate the type of pain being experienced. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of stimulating a healing response from a damaged intervertebral disc, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a stimulation lead having a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of infusion ports, said electrodes and said infusion ports being selectively spaced and arranged with one another, said plurality of infusion ports communicating with a plurality of lumens extending through said stimulation lead, each lumen of said plurality of lumens capable of delivering a selected chemical therethrough;
implanting the stimulation lead in the disc so that the plurality of electrodes and the plurality of infusion ports lie adjacent to a targeted area within the disc;
delivering electrical energy from the electrodes to the disc;
delivering at least one chemical through the infusion ports into the disc; and
wherein the electrical energy and chemical are especially selected to remediate the type of pain being experienced. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A stimulation device especially adapted for placement within an intervertebral disc for treatment of target tissue therein, said device comprising:
a stimulation lead having an elongate configuration, said stimulation lead being made of a dissolvable matrix material that dissolves over a period of time when the stimulation lead is implanted within an intervertebral disc, and wherein the dissolvable matrix is composed of materials selected from the group consisting of nutrients and medications. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of providing selected nutrients and medications to targeted tissue in the body, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a stimulation lead composed of a dissolvable matrix, said matrix including materials selected from the group consisting of nutrients and medications;
implanting the stimulation lead in the body so that the stimulation lead lies adjacent to the targeted tissue; and
leaving the stimulation lead implanted within the body to enable the dissolvable matrix to dissolve and thereby deliver the selected nutrients and medications to the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification