Implantable system enabling responsive therapy for pain
First Claim
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1. An implantable apparatus for treating pain in a human patient by selectively applying therapy, the apparatus comprising:
- a therapy subsystem coupled to at least one therapy output, wherein the stimulation subsystem is operative to selectively initiate delivery of a therapy to the therapy output. a detection subsystem coupled to at least one sensor, wherein the detection subsystem is operative to receive and process a detected signal generated by the sensor; and
a processor operative to identify a pain signature in the detected signal and to cause the therapy subsystem to initiate application of the therapy in response thereto.
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Abstract
An implantable neurostimulator system for treating pain includes scheduled and responsive therapy capabilities including responsive stimulation applied to the brain and peripheral sections of the nervous system. Methods for treating chronic nociceptive, neuropathic, and psychogenic pain employ an inventive system to advantageously reduce multiple symptoms and components of pain and to address underlying causes of pain.
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Citations
64 Claims
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1. An implantable apparatus for treating pain in a human patient by selectively applying therapy, the apparatus comprising:
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a therapy subsystem coupled to at least one therapy output, wherein the stimulation subsystem is operative to selectively initiate delivery of a therapy to the therapy output. a detection subsystem coupled to at least one sensor, wherein the detection subsystem is operative to receive and process a detected signal generated by the sensor; and
a processor operative to identify a pain signature in the detected signal and to cause the therapy subsystem to initiate application of the therapy in response thereto.
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24. An implantable apparatus for treating neuropathic pain in a human patient by selectively applying therapy, the apparatus comprising:
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a therapy subsystem coupled to at least one therapy output located at a therapy location selected from a thalamus, a motor cortex, a brain stem structure, a periaqueductal gray area, a periventricular gray area, a precentral gyrus, or a parietal cortex of the human patient, wherein the stimulation subsystem is operative to selectively initiate delivery of a therapy to the therapy output. a detection subsystem coupled to at least one sensor located at or near a detection location selected from a primary somatosensory cortex, a secondary somatosensory cortex, an anterior cingulated cortex, a prefrontal cortex, an insular cortex, a thalamus, a spinal cord, or a peripheral nerve of the human patient, wherein the detection subsystem is operative to receive and process a detected signal generated by the sensor; and
a processor operative to identify a pain signature in the detected signal and to cause the therapy subsystem to initiate application of the therapy in response thereto.
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25. A method for treating pain in a human patient with an implantable apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a signal from at least one sensor at a detection location;
analyzing the signal to detect a pain signature in the signal; and
in response to detecting the pain signature, initiating an action at a therapy location, wherein the action is therapeutic.
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- 28. The method of claim 0 wherein the step of identifying a detection location comprises performing a medical imaging operation.
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30. The method of claim 0 wherein the step of identifying a detection location comprises performing electrographic mapping.
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31. The method of claim 0 further comprising the step of implanting the sensor and coupling the sensor to the apparatus, wherein the sensor is operative to generate a signal representative of a condition at the detection location.
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37. An implantable apparatus for treating pain in a human patient by selectively applying therapy, the apparatus comprising:
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a therapy subsystem coupled to at least one therapy output, wherein the therapy subsystem is operative to selectively initiate delivery of a therapy to the therapy output. a detection subsystem coupled to at least one sensor, wherein the detection subsystem is operative to receive and process a detected sensor signal generated by the sensor; and
a processor operative to identify a pain signature in the detected signal and to cause the therapy subsystem to initiate application of the therapy in response thereto, wherein the pain signature represents at least one pain component selected from the group of sensory pain, affective pain, and cognitive pain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for treating pain in a human patient with an implantable apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a sensor signal from at least one sensor at a detection location;
analyzing the sensor signal to detect a pain-related event in the signal; and
in response to detecting the pain-related event, initiating an action at a therapy location, wherein the action is therapeutic. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification