Implantable medical device providing adaptive neurostimulation therapy for incontinence

• US 20070100388A1
• Filed: 10/31/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin
• Application Number:
  US11/263,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100388A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37282 characterised by communication with experts in remote locations using a network

Abstract

The invention provides an implantable neurostimulator that includes a pulse generator to supply electrical stimulation through a lead having one or more electrodes, a memory storing at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program, wherein the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program includes frequency of stimulation, pulse width of stimulation, amplitude of stimulation, particular electrode(s) that is to be utilized, the on and off time, or some combination thereof, and a processor that controls the pulse generator to apply stimulation pulses according to the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program.

Claims

1. An implantable neurostimulator comprising:

a pulse generator to supply electrical stimulation through a lead having one or more electrodes;

a memory storing at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program, wherein the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program comprises frequency of stimulation, pulse width of stimulation, amplitude of stimulation, particular electrode(s) that is to be utilized, the on and off time, or some combination thereof; and

a processor that controls the pulse generator to apply stimulation pulses according to the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program.

2. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program varies based on the frequency of stimulation.

3. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 2, wherein the frequency of stimulation varies from about 10 Hz to about 30 Hz.

4. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 2, wherein the frequency of stimulation is randomly varied.

5. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 2, wherein the frequency of stimulation is non-randomly varied.

6. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program varies based on the pulse width of stimulation.

7. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 6, wherein the pulse width varies from about 175 microseconds to about 250 microseconds.

8. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 6, wherein the pulse width of stimulation is randomly varied.

9. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 6, wherein the pulse width of stimulation is non-randomly varied.

10. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program varies based on the on and off time.

11. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 10, wherein the on time, the off time, or both the on time and the off time are varied between about 30 seconds and about 5 minutes.

12. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 11, wherein the on time, the off time, or both the on time and the off time are randomly varied.

13. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 1 further comprising at least one sensor that monitors at least one parameter that could reveal changes in the efficacy of the neurostimulation therapy.

14. The implantable neurostimulator according to claim 13, wherein the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program is utilized as a result of the at least one sensor monitors a change in a parameter.

15. A method for providing therapy for at least one pelvic floor disorder comprising:

implanting a neurostimulator in a patient;

implanting at least one lead having at least one electrode in the patient;

operating the neurostimulator to provide fluctuating neurostimulation therapy to the patient, wherein the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy comprises frequency of stimulation, pulse width of stimulation, amplitude of stimulation, particular electrode(s) that is to be utilized, the on and off time, or some combination thereof.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of monitoring the efficacy of the therapy before operating the neurostimulator to provide fluctuating neurostimulation therapy.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of monitoring the efficacy of the therapy comprises patient monitoring, physician monitoring, monitoring via a sensor, or some combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the pelvic floor disorder is incontinence, a gastric mobility disorder, pain relief, sexual dysfunction, interstitial cystitis, or some combination thereof.

19. An implantable neurostimulator configured to perform the method of claim 15.

20. A system for providing therapy for at least one pelvic floor disorder comprising:

an implantable neurostimulator comprising;

a pulse generator to supply electrical stimulation through a lead having one or more electrodes;

a memory storing at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program, wherein the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program comprises frequency of stimulation, pulse width of stimulation, amplitude of stimulation, particular electrode(s) that is to be utilized, the on and off time, or some combination thereof; and

a processor that controls the pulse generator to apply stimulation pulses

according to the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program; and

at least one implantable lead that comprises at least one electrode.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program varies based on the frequency of stimulation.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the frequency of stimulation varies from about 10 Hz to about 30 Hz.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein the frequency of stimulation is randomly varied.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein the frequency of stimulation is non-randomly varied.

25. The system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program varies based on the pulse width of stimulation.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein the pulse width varies from about 175 microseconds to about 250 microseconds.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the pulse width of stimulation is randomly varied.

28. The system according to claim 25, wherein the pulse width of stimulation is non-randomly varied.

29. The system according to claim 20, wherein the at least one fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program varies based on the on and off time.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the on time, the off time, or both the on time and the off time are varied between about 30 seconds and about 5 minutes.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the on time, the off time, or both the on time and the off time are randomly varied.

32. The system according to claim 20 further comprising at least one sensor that monitors at least one parameter that could reveal changes in the efficacy of the neurostimulation therapy.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the fluctuating neurostimulation therapy program is utilized as a result of the at least one sensor monitors a change in a parameter.