Conductive mesh for neurostimulation

• US 20070185541A1
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: DiUbaldi, Anthony, Tracey, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,751,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0045 Support slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0512 Anal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0514 Electrodes for the urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• 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 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

A medial treatment device for treating at least first and second medical conditions is provided, as well as a method for using the same. The medical treatment device includes a stimulation device for treating the first medical condition with electrical stimulation, and an implantable mesh adapted for implantation within the patient to treat the second medical condition. The implantable mesh has a plurality of incorporated electrically conductive elements adapted to conduct electrical stimulation from the stimulation device to a position closer to a predetermined body part the stimulation of which at least partially treats the first medical condition.

Claims

1. A medial treatment device for treating at least first and second medical conditions of a patient, comprising:

a neurostimulation device for treating a first neurologically based condition of the patient, the neurostimulation device further comprising a first waveform generator adapted to generate a first waveform having a frequency capable of stimulating a predetermined nerve of the patient, a second waveform generator adapted to generate a carrier waveform having a frequency capable of passing through tissue of the patient, a modulation device electrically coupled to the first and second waveform generators and adapted to modulate the first and carrier waveforms to create a modulated waveform, and an electrode electrically coupled to the modulation device and positioned substantially adjacent to skin of the patient, and adapted to apply the modulated waveform thereto; and

an implantable mesh adapted for implantation within the patient to treat a second medical condition of the patient, wherein the implantable mesh has a plurality of incorporated electrically conductive elements adapted to conduct the applied modulated waveform to a position closer to the predetermined nerve than the electrode when the mesh is implanted.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive elements are a plurality of electrically conductive fibers.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the implantable mesh is a knitted or woven mesh having the conductive fibers at least partially interwoven therein.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the implantable mesh is a knitted or woven mesh having the conductive fibers coupled thereto.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the implantable mesh is comprises of absorbable or non-absorbable fibers, or some combination thereof.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conductive fibers are comprised of a conductive metal or conductive polymer.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conductive fibers further comprise a non-conductive core material at least partially coated with a conductive metal or conductive polymer.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive elements are separate elements coupled to the mesh at predetermined, discrete locations.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive elements are formed by coating the mesh with a conductive material at predetermined, discrete locations.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second waveform generators and the electrode are positioned within a patch device having an adhesive thereon for securing the patch to the skin.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined nerve is the pudendal nerve, and the patch is positioned substantially at the abdominal or sacral regions of the mammal'"'"'s body.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the implantable mesh is a urethral sling for treating female urinary incontinence.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the first waveform has a frequency substantially within the range of 10-40 Hz.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the first waveform is a square wave.

15. The medical treatment device according to claim 14, wherein the carrier waveform has a frequency substantially within the range of 10-400 kHz.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the carrier waveform is a sinusoidal waveform.

17. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor adapted to control generation of the first and carrier waveforms by the first and second waveform generators.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mesh is a hemia repair mesh.

19. A method for treating at least first and second medical conditions of a patient comprising:

generating a first waveform having a frequency capable of stimulating a predetermined nerve of the patient to treat a first neurologically based condition of the patient;

generating a carrier waveform having a frequency capable of passing through tissue of the patient;

modulating said first waveform with the carrier waveform to produce a modulated signal;

applying the modulated signal to the patient'"'"'s skin; and

using an implanted mesh having a plurality of incorporated conductive elements to conduct the applied modulated signal to a location closer to the predetermined nerve than the electrode.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of conductive elements are a plurality of conductive fibers.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of conductive fibers extend substantially along a length of the mesh.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of conductive fibers are at least partially interwoven with the mesh.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of conductive fibers are coupled with the mesh.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of conductive elements are separate elements secured to the mesh a predetermined, discrete locations.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of conductive elements are formed by coating the mesh with a conductive material at a plurality of predetermined, discrete locations.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the modulated signal is applied to the mammal'"'"'s skin in the abdominal or sacral regions of the mammal'"'"'s body.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the first waveform has a frequency substantially within the range of 10-40 Hz, and the carrier waveform has a frequency substantially within the range of 10-400 kHz.

28. The method according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined nerve is the pudendal nerve.

29. The method according to claim 19, wherein the implanted mesh is a suburethral sling for treating female urinary incontinence.

30. The method according to claim 19, wherein the implanted mesh is a hernia repair mesh.

31. An implant for treating female urinary incontinence in a patient, comprising:

a substantially flat, flexible mesh or netting adapted to be implanted into a female patient'"'"'s body as a supportive loop beneath the patient'"'"'s urethra, wherein the mesh or netting is further comprised of interwoven fibers, at least one of which is electrically conductive.

32. The implant according to claim 31, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber extends substantially along a length of the implant.

33. The implant according to claim 31, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber is comprised of a conductive metal or conductive polymer.

34. The implant according to claim 31, wherein the at least one electrically conductive fiber is comprised of a non-conductive core at least partially coated with a conductive material.

35. The implant according to claim 31, wherein the mesh or netting is primarily comprised of a knitted polypropylene.

36. The implant according to claim 35, wherein the mesh or netting has a thickness of approximately 0.7 mm and a width of approximately 10 mm.

37. A medial treatment device for treating at least first and second medical conditions of a patient, comprising:

a stimulation device for treating a first medical condition of the patient with electrical stimulation; and

an implantable mesh adapted for implantation within the patient to treat a second medical condition of the patient, wherein the implantable mesh has a plurality of incorporated electrically conductive elements adapted to conduct electrical stimulation from the stimulation device to a position closer to a predetermined body part the stimulation of which at least partially treats the first medical condition.