METHOD FOR DELIVERY OF ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

• US 20090240303A1
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Skime, Robert M., Wahlstrand, Carl D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,620,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

The disclosure describes an implantable neurostimulator device for delivery of neurostimulation to treat head, neck, or facial pain or tension, including pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia. The device may be a neurostimulation device having a miniaturized housing with a low profile that permits subcutaneous implantation at a stimulation site directly adjacent a neuralgic region at the back of the neck of a patient. For example, the device may be subcutaneously implanted at the back of the neck of a patient to relieve symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

Claims

1. A method comprising delivering electrical stimulation to a patient from an electrical stimulation device implanted in a subcutaneous region within a back of a neck of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising implanting the electrical stimulation device in the subcutaneous region within the back of the neck of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to treat symptoms of occipital neuralgia.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to treat at least one of pain or tension in at least one of a head, neck or facial region of a patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation device includes an electrical stimulation generator that generates the electrical stimulation, a battery within the housing that powers the stimulation generator, a set of electrodes, coupled to the stimulation generator, that delivers the electrical stimulation, and a device housing that houses the stimulation generator and the battery, wherein the device housing is shaped to at partially conform to the subcutaneous region within the back of the neck of the patient.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a two-dimensional array on a surface of the housing.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises an array of electrodes arranged in rows and columns of electrodes.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising a flexible member that at least partially encapsulates the housing, wherein at least one electrode of the set of electrodes protrudes through the flexible member.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a two-dimensional array on a surface of the housing.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising placing the device housing within the subcutaneous region so that the device housing conforms to the subcutaneous region.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein the device housing is sized and curved to fit within and at least partially conform to the subcutaneous region within the back of the neck of the patient when the device housing is implanted in the subcutaneous region.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a degree of curvature to conform to a radius of a stimulation site in the subcutaneous region.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the housing comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the electrodes are formed on the second side of the housing for placement adjacent a neuralgic region within the back of the neck of the patient.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the housing is substantially cylindrical, and the electrodes include ring electrodes formed along the portion of the housing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation device includes an at least partially bendable housing, the method further comprising bending the housing to at partially conform the housing to the subcutaneous region within the back of the neck of the patient.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation device comprises a housing including a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a bellows-like element that couples the first and second housing portions, the first and second housing portions being movable relative to one another.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an electrical stimulation generator is mounted within the first housing portion and a battery is mounted in the second housing portion.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing defines a hole, the method further comprising placing a suture through the hole to anchor the electrical stimulation device at a stimulation site in the subcutaneous region.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation device includes a rechargeable battery, the method further comprising recharging the battery via an inductive coil in the electrical stimulation device.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation device includes a housing with a first side and a second side, the housing defining a degree of curvature such that the second side is concave, and the electrodes are formed on the second side of the housing, the method further comprising placing the electrical stimulation device within the subcutaneous region such that the electrodes face inward toward subcutaneous tissue.

21. A method comprising:

implanting an electrical stimulation device in a subcutaneous region within a back of a neck of the patient; and

delivering electrical stimulation from the electrical stimulation device to the patient to treat at least one of pain or tension in at least one of a head, neck or facial region of a patient,

wherein the electrical stimulation device includes an electrical stimulation generator that generates the electrical stimulation, a set of electrodes, coupled to the stimulation generator, that delivers the electrical stimulation, and a device housing that houses the stimulation generator and the battery, wherein the device housing is shaped to substantially conform to the subcutaneous region within the back of the neck of the patient.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to treat at least one of pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a two-dimensional array on a surface of the housing.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the two-dimensional array comprises an array of electrodes arranged in rows and columns of electrodes.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising a flexible member that at least partially encapsulates the housing, wherein at least one electrode of the set of electrodes protrudes through the flexible member.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the housing comprises a degree of curvature to conform to a radius of curvature of a stimulation site in the subcutaneous region.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the housing comprises a first side and a second side, wherein the electrodes are formed on the second side of the housing for placement adjacent a neuralgic region within the back of the neck of the patient.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the housing of the electrical stimulation device is bendable, the method further comprising bending the housing to at partially conform the housing to the subcutaneous region within the back of the neck of the patient.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the housing defines a degree of curvature such that the second side is concave, and the electrodes are formed on the second side of the housing, the method further comprising placing the electrical stimulation device within the subcutaneous region such that the electrodes face inward toward subcutaneous tissue.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the housing is substantially cylindrical, and the electrodes include ring electrodes formed along the portion of the housing.