SYSTEMS AND DEVICES FOR NEURAL STIMULATION AND CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY
First Claim
1. A system for electrical stimulation of neural tissue in a patient and controlled drug delivery to the patient, comprising:
- a drug delivery module suitable for implantation in the patient at a first site, the module comprisinga plurality of reservoirs containing at least one drug, each reservoir having at least one opening for release of the drug,electrically conductive reservoir caps closing off the openings of the reservoirs, anda power source and control circuitry for disintegrating the reservoir caps;
a stimulator module suitable for implantation in the patient at a second site, the stimulator comprisingan electrical signal generator, andat least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient, wherein the stimulation electrode is operably connected to the electrical signal generator; and
at least one microcontroller for controlling the drug delivery module and the stimulator module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical devices and methods are provided for electrical stimulation of neural tissue and controlled drug delivery to a patient. The device includes an implantable drug delivery module which comprises a plurality of reservoirs, a release system comprising at least one drug contained in each of the reservoirs, and control means for selectively releasing a pharmaceutically effective amount of drug from each reservoir; a neural electrical stimulator which comprises a signal generator connected to at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient; and at least one microcontroller for controlling operational interaction of the drug delivery module and the neural electrical stimulator. The microcontroller may control the signal generator and the control means of the drug delivery module. The device may further include a sensor operable to deliver a signal to the microcontroller, for example to indicate when to deliver electrical stimulation, drug, or both.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for electrical stimulation of neural tissue in a patient and controlled drug delivery to the patient, comprising:
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a drug delivery module suitable for implantation in the patient at a first site, the module comprising a plurality of reservoirs containing at least one drug, each reservoir having at least one opening for release of the drug, electrically conductive reservoir caps closing off the openings of the reservoirs, and a power source and control circuitry for disintegrating the reservoir caps; a stimulator module suitable for implantation in the patient at a second site, the stimulator comprising an electrical signal generator, and at least one stimulation electrode for operable engagement with a neural tissue of the patient, wherein the stimulation electrode is operably connected to the electrical signal generator; and at least one microcontroller for controlling the drug delivery module and the stimulator module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
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implanting a drug delivery module in the patient, the drug delivery module being configured to provide controlled release of a drug to a first site in the patient; implanting a neural stimulation module in the patient, the neural stimulation module being configures to stimulate a neural tissue at a second site in the patient; and controlling with at least one microcontroller the controlled release of the drug and the stimulation of the neural tissue. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification