DORSAL COLUMN STIMULATION THERAPY

• US 20110054565A1
• Filed: 08/12/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Johanek, Lisa M., Wacnik, Paul W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

Abstract

In some examples, the disclosure relates to system, devices, and techniques for delivering dorsal column stimulation. One or more locations for dorsal column stimulation may be identified based on sensed signals evoked by delivery of stimulation to a dorsal root and/or peripheral nerve of a patient. In some examples, an IMD may deliver dorsal column stimulation in combination with dorsal root stimulation to a patient to treat a patient condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation to at least one of a peripheral nerve and a dorsal root of a patient; and

sensing a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the one or more locations on the dorsal column based on the signal sensed at the respective location.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising delivering electrical stimulation to a respective location of the one or more locations based on the evaluation of the sensed signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation comprise sensing an action potential evoked by the electrical stimulation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more locations on the dorsal column on the patient comprises a first location on the dorsal column and a second location on the dorsal column.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein sensing the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on the dorsal column of the patient comprises sensing a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at the first location and a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at the second location on the dorsal column of the patient, the method further comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation to the first location based on an evaluation of one or more parameters of the sensed signal at the first location compared to the sensed signal at the second location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein delivering electrical stimulation to the first location based on the evaluation of one or more parameters of the sensed signal at the first location compared to the sensed signal at the second location comprises:

determining that the sensed signal at the first location exhibits a greater sensed signal amplitude compared to the sensed signal at the second location; and

delivering electrical stimulation to the first location based at least in part on the determination.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering electrical stimulation to at least one of the peripheral nerve and the dorsal root of the patient comprises delivering a plurality of stimulation pulses to the at least one of the peripheral nerve and the dorsal root of the patient, and

wherein sensing the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on the dorsal column of the patient comprises sensing a plurality of signals evoked by the plurality of stimulation pulses at one or more locations on the dorsal column.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising delivering electrical stimulation to a respective location of the one or more locations based on the evaluation of the plurality of sensed signals.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on the dorsal column of the patient comprises sensing a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on the dorsal column of the patient via first electrode, the method further comprising:

delivering electrical stimulation to the one or more locations via the first electrode based on the sensed signals.

11. A system comprising:

a therapy module configured to deliver electrical stimulation to at least one of a peripheral nerve and dorsal root of a patient;

a sensing module; and

a processor configured to sense, via the sensing module, a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate the one or more locations on the dorsal column based on the signal sensed at the respective location.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is configured to control delivery of electrical stimulation to a respective location of the one or more locations based on the evaluation of the sensed signal.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor senses the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation by at least sensing an action potential evoked by the electrical stimulation.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more locations on the dorsal column on the patient comprises a first location on the dorsal column and a second location on the dorsal column.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor senses the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient by at least sensing a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at the first location and a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at the second location on the dorsal column of the patient, and wherein the processor is configured to control delivery of electrical stimulation to the first location based on an evaluation of one or more parameters of the sensed signal at the first location compared to the sensed signal at the second location.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to control delivery of electrical stimulation to the first location based on an evaluation of one or more parameters of the sensed signal at the first location compared to the sensed signal at the second location by at least determining that the sensed signal at the first location exhibits a greater sensed signal amplitude at the first location compared to the sensed signal at the second location, and then controlling delivery of electrical stimulation to the first location based at least in part on the determination.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor controls delivery of electrical stimulation to at least one of a peripheral nerve and a dorsal root of a patient by at least delivering a plurality of stimulation pulses to the at least one of a peripheral nerve and a dorsal root of a patient, and

wherein the processor senses the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient by at least sensing a plurality of signals evoked by the plurality of stimulation pulses at the one or more locations on the dorsal column.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor controls delivery of electrical stimulation to a respective location of the one or more locations based on the evaluation of the plurality of sensed signals.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor senses the signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at the one or more locations on the dorsal column of the patient by at least sensing a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at the one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient via first electrode, and wherein the processor is configured to control delivery of electrical stimulation to the one or more locations via the first electrode based on the sensed signals.

21. A system comprising:

means for delivering electrical stimulation to at least one of a peripheral nerve and dorsal root of a patient; and

means for sensing a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:

control a therapy module to deliver electrical stimulation to at least one of a peripheral nerve and a dorsal root of a patient; and

sense a signal evoked by the electrical stimulation at one or more locations on a dorsal column of the patient.