Systems for electrical stimulation of nerves in adipose tissue regions

• US 20060173507A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Urinary Solutions, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: NDI Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Grill, Julie, Strother, Robert B., Bennett, Maria E., Mrva, Joseph J., Thrope, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

Systems provide a stimulation electrode assembly sized and configured for placement in an adipose tissue region to stimulate a nerve in the adipose tissue region comprising an elongated lead sized and configured to be implanted within the adipose tissue region, the lead including at least two electrically conductive portions to apply electrical stimulation to nerve tissue in the adipose tissue region, and at least two expandable anchoring structures deployable from the lead to engage adipose tissue and resist dislodgment and/or migration of the at least two electrically conductive portions within the adipose tissue region.

Claims

1. A stimulation electrode assembly sized and configured for placement in an adipose tissue region to stimulate a nerve in the adipose tissue region comprising

an elongated lead sized and configured to be implanted within the adipose tissue region, the lead including at least two electrically conductive portions to apply electrical stimulation to nerve tissue in the adipose tissue region, and at least two expandable anchoring structures deployable from the lead to engage adipose tissue and resist dislodgment and/or migration of the at least two electrically conductive portions within the adipose tissue region.

2. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein each expandable anchoring structure includes two circumferentially spaced-apart, radiating shovel-like blade shaped members.

3. An assembly according to claim 2,

wherein the two shovel-like blade shaped members are spaced 180 degrees apart.

4. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the at least two expandable anchoring structures are spaced 90 degrees apart.

5. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein each electrically conductive portion comprises a conductive surface area in the range of about 10 mm² to about 20 mm².

6. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the spacing between the at least two electrically conductive portions comprises an axial spacing in the range of about 1.5 millimeters to about 2.5 millimeters.

7. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the spacing between the at least two expandable anchoring structures comprises an axial spacing in the range of about six millimeters to about fourteen millimeters.

8. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the lead includes a distal section, and wherein the at least two electrically conductive portions are at or near the distal section, and wherein the at least two expandable anchoring structures are proximal to the at least two electrically conductive portions.

9. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the at least two electrically conductive portions can be configured to function as two individual stimulating electrodes in a monopolar configuration or as one stimulating electrode in a bipolar configuration.

10. An assembly according to claim 1,

wherein the at least two expandable anchoring structures are deployable between a collapsed condition along the lead and an expanded condition extending outward of the lead.

11. A method comprising

providing a stimulation electrode assembly according to claim 1,

implanting the stimulation electrode assembly in an adipose tissue region, and

conveying electrical stimulation waveforms through the stimulation electrode assembly to achieve selective stimulation of at least one nerve in the adipose tissue region.

12. A method according to claim 11,

wherein the stimulation electrode assembly is implanted at or near a pubic symphysis.

13. A method according to claim 12,

wherein the stimulation stimulates a left and/or right branch of the dorsal genital nerves.

14. A system for stimulation of a target nerve in an adipose tissue region comprising

a stimulation electrode sized and configured to be implanted in adipose tissue to stimulate the target nerve in a region at or near a pubic symphysis, the stimulation electrode comprising

an elongated lead sized and configured to be implanted within the adipose tissue region, the lead including at least two electrically conductive portions to apply electrical stimulation to nerve tissue in the adipose tissue region, and at least two expandable anchoring structures deployable from the lead to engage adipose tissue and resist dislodgment and/or migration of the at least two electrically conductive portions within the adipose tissue region, and

an implantable pulse generator sized and configured to be positioned subcutaneous to a tissue surface remote from the stimulation electrode, the implantable pulse generator comprising wireless telemetry circuitry, the wireless telemetry circuitry being functional within arms reach of the patient, and being adapted for programming and interrogation of the implantable pulse generator.

15. A system according to claim 14,

wherein the implantable pulse generator is sized and configured to convey electrical stimulation waveforms to the stimulation electrode to stimulate a left branch and/or a right branch of the dorsal genital nerves.

16. A method of using the system defined in claim 14.