ELECTRICAL STIMULATION TO ALLEVIATE CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an implantable stimulation device that generates electrical stimulation selected to alleviate pelvic pain;
an electrode coupled to the implantable stimulation device, wherein the electrode is positioned proximate to a genital nerve branch of a genitofemoral nerve of a patient at a point after the genitofemoral nerve has branched to form the genital nerve branch and a femoral nerve branch; and
a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the implantable stimulation device to apply the electrical stimulation to the genital nerve branch via the electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes a method and system for applying electrical stimulation to a genitofemoral nerve or a genital branch of a genitofemoral nerve of a patient. The system includes electrical stimulators that apply electrical stimulation for alleviation of pelvic pain. The system may apply electrical stimulation for pelvic pain in men or women. The electrical stimulators may comprise various types of electrodes such as cuff electrodes, electrode leads, and microstimulators implanted at various locations proximate to a single or both genitofemoral nerves and the genital branch of a single or both genitofemoral nerves of a patient. When implanted proximate to a genital nerve branch, the electrode may be implanted proximate to the genital nerve branch. In a male patient stimulation may be delivered proximate to the spermatic cord, which contains a portion of the genital nerve branch.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an implantable stimulation device that generates electrical stimulation selected to alleviate pelvic pain; an electrode coupled to the implantable stimulation device, wherein the electrode is positioned proximate to a genital nerve branch of a genitofemoral nerve of a patient at a point after the genitofemoral nerve has branched to form the genital nerve branch and a femoral nerve branch; and a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the implantable stimulation device to apply the electrical stimulation to the genital nerve branch via the electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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means for applying electrical stimulation, which is selected to alleviate pelvic pain, to at least a portion of a first genitofemoral nerve of a patient at a point prior to the first genitofemoral nerve entering a first inguinal canal of the patient; and means for applying electrical stimulation, which is selected to alleviate pelvic pain, to at least a portion of a second genitofemoral nerve of the patient at a point after the second genitofemoral nerve exits a second inguinal canal of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause an implantable stimulation device to:
apply electrical stimulation, which is selected to alleviate pelvic pain, to a genital nerve branch of a genitofemoral nerve of a patient via an electrode that is positioned proximate to the genital nerve branch at a point after the genitofemoral nerve has branched to form the genital nerve branch and a femoral nerve branch.
Specification