METHOD OF USING SPINAL CORD STIMULATION TO TREAT GASTROINTESTINAL AND/OR EATING DISORDERS OR CONDITIONS

• US 20080154329A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Pyles, Stephen, Hoare, Rohan
• Granted Patent: US 8,170,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer

Abstract

The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation to treat gastrointestinal and/or eating disorders. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead that is in communication with predetermined thoracic vertebral segments to cause spinal nervous tissue stimulation, thus treating a wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders.

Claims

1. A method of treating irritable bowel syndrome, comprising:

implanting at least an electrical lead within the epidural space of a patient such that at least one electrode of the electrical lead is disposed adjacent to nerve tissue of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord within a thoracic vertebral segment;

selecting a plurality of operating parameters for an electrical spinal cord stimulation system that are effective for treating irritable bowel syndrome;

programming the electrical spinal cord stimulation system according to the plurality of operating parameters; and

treating the patient'"'"'s irritable bowel syndrome by activating the electrical spinal cord stimulation system to deliver electrical pulses to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode is implanted within the T5/T6 epidural space of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical spinal cord stimulation delivers electrical pulses on a substantially continuous basis.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein stimulation of the nerve tissue causes an increase in gastric motility.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of operating parameters include a pulse amplitude parameter, a pulse width parameter, and a pulse frequency parameter.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pulse frequency parameter is within the range of 10-350 Hz.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the lead comprises a plurality of electrodes and the plurality of operating parameters include an electrode configuration.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the selecting comprises:

temporarily delivering electrical pulses according to the plurality of operating parameters to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue; and

monitoring gastric activity that occurs while the temporarily delivering is performed.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the monitoring comprises:

determining gastric motility by measuring pressure generated by contraction of muscles of the stomach and/or small intestine.

10. A method of treating a gastrointestinal disorder, comprising:

implanting at least an electrical lead within the epidural space of a patient such that at least one electrode of the electrical lead is disposed adjacent to nerve tissue of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord within a thoracic vertebral segment;

selecting a plurality of operating parameters for an electrical spinal cord stimulation system that are effective for treating the gastrointestinal disorder;

programming the electrical spinal cord stimulation system according to the plurality of operating parameters; and

treating the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal disorder by activating the electrical spinal cord stimulation system to deliver electrical pulses to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue within the thoracic vertebral segment.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the gastrointestinal disorder is selected from the group consisting of heartburn, bloating, postoperative ileus, abdominal pain and discomfort, early satiety, abdominal pain, epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, burbulence, regurgitation, intestinal pseudoobstruction, anal incontinence, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, chronic constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis, ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, Crohn'"'"'s disease, menstrual cramps, spastic ulcers, and interstitial cystitis ulcers.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the electrical spinal cord stimulation system delivers electrical pulses on a temporary basis in response to receiving an initiation signal from an external control device operated by the patient.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein stimulation of the nerve tissue causes an increase in gastric motility.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of operating parameters include a pulse amplitude parameter, a pulse width parameter, and a pulse frequency parameter.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the pulse frequency parameter is within the range of 10-350 Hz.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the lead comprises a plurality of electrodes and the plurality of operating parameters include an electrode configuration.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the selecting comprises:

temporarily delivering electrical pulses according to the plurality of operating parameters to the electrode adjacent to the nerve tissue within the thoracic vertebral segment; and

monitoring gastric activity that occurs while the temporarily delivering is performed.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the monitoring comprises:

determining gastric motility by measuring pressure generated by contraction of muscles of the stomach and/or small intestine.

19. The method of claim 10 wherein the at least one electrode is implanted within the T5/T6 epidural space of the patient.