METHOD OF NEUROSTIMULATION OF DISTINCT NEURAL STRUCTURES USING SINGLE PADDLE LEAD TO TREAT MULTIPLE PAIN LOCATIONS AND MULTI-COLUMN, MULTI-ROW PADDLE LEAD FOR SUCH NEUROSTIMULATION

• US 20100030300A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Claudio A. Feler, John H. Erickson
• Original Assignee: Claudio A. Feler, John H. Erickson
• Inventors: Erickson, John H., Feler, Claudio A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,979,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

Abstract

In some embodiments, a paddle lead is implanted within a patient such that the electrodes are positioned within the cervical or thoracic spinal levels. An electrode combination on a first row of electrodes can be determined that is effective for a first pain location with minimal effects on other regions of the body. The first pain location can be addressed by stimulating a first dorsal column fiber due to the relatively fine electrical field resolution achievable by the multiple columns. Then, another electrode combination on a second row of electrodes can be determined for a second pain location with minimal effects on other regions. The second pain location could be addressed by stimulating a second dorsal column fiber. After the determination of the appropriate electrodes for stimulation, the patient'"'"'s IPG can be programmed to deliver pulses using the first and second rows according to the determined electrode combinations.

Claims

1. A system for electrically neurostimulating a patient, comprising:

a paddle lead that is positioned within the epidural space of the patient and comprises at least five columns and multiple rows of electrodes; and

a pulse generator that is electrically coupled to the paddle lead and that is programmable to deliver pulses to neural tissue of the patient using the electrodes of the paddle lead, wherein the pulse generator is programmed to;

(i) stimulate a first dorsal column fiber of the patient using one or several electrodes on a first row of the paddle lead;

(ii) anodally block stimulation of at least one neural structure adjacent to the first dorsal column fiber using one or several electrodes on the first row of the paddle lead;

(iii) stimulate a second dorsal column fiber using one or several electrodes on a second row of the paddle lead; and

(iv) anodally block stimulation of at least one neural structure adjacent to the second dorsal column fiber using one or several electrodes on the second row of the paddle lead;

wherein stimulation of the first and second dorsal column fibers addresses pain in distinct regions of the patient'"'"'s body in a substantially concurrent basis.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pulse generator is further programmed to hyperpolarize at least one neural structure using one or several electrodes of the paddle lead.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein one of the distinct regions is associated with the lower extremities of the patient.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the electrodes of the paddle lead are positioned within one or several cervical segments of the patient'"'"'s spine.