IMPLANTABLE PULSED-RADIOFREQUENCY MICRO-STIMULATION SYSTEM

• US 20110130804A1
• Filed: 11/23/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UniMed Investment Inc.
• Original Assignee: UniMed Investment Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Mu-Lien, Shih, Win-Pin, Wen, Yeong-Ray, Lu, Shey-Shi, Chiu, Hung-Wei, Lin, Chii-Wann
• Application Number:
  US12/952,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130804A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36153 Voltage A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treating a nervous symptom or condition in a subject with a pulsed-radiofrequency stimulation system with a low voltage to overcome the disadvantages of the known related stimulation systems.

Claims

1. An implantable pulsed-radiofrequency stimulator for treating a nervous symptom or condition, which comprises:

a low power consumption micro-controller for controlling the working parameters of radiofrequency stimulation pulses by providing a radiofrequency stimulation pattern; and

at least one electrode for generating a pulsed-radiofrequency stimulation at a low amplitude, which is connected with the controller via a wire for delivering the electrical stimulation pattern.

2. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the nervous symptom or condition is selected from the group consisting of chronic pain, motor disorder, cognitive disorder, obesity, epilepsy, depression, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, back pain, tremor, dystonia, spasticity, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, urinary and fecal incontinence.

3. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) exposed on or around an appropriated location of the central or peripheral nervous system as desired, including vegus nerves, gastric nerves, motor nerves, cortex tissues, or deep brain.

4. The stimulator of claim 3, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) exposed on or around a dorsal root ganglion or a spinal ganglion of spine or a trigeminal ganglion of the 5^th cranial nerves, or basal ganglia, hippocampus of brain, cerebellum, or autonomic nerve, or peripheral nerves.

5. The stimulator of claim 2, wherein the nervous symptom is back pain.

6. The stimulator of claim 5, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) exposed on or around a dorsal root ganglion.

7. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the working parameters of radiofrequency stimulation pulses comprise duty cycle, amplitude, and duration of radiofrequency stimulation pulses.

8. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the low power consumption micro-controller contains a processor for controlling pulsed-radiofrequency stimulation.

9. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the low power consumption micro-controller is configured in a chip.

10. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the amplitude as needed is less than 20 volts.

11. The stimulator of claim 10, wherein the amplitude as needed is the amplitude as need is in a range from +10 to −

10 volts.

12. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the PRF waveform is a monophasic retangluar pulse shape, a bi-phasic pulse shape, a sinusodial or triangular pulse shape.

13. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) in the form of two electrodes, or one electrode which is configured as a uni-polar with a long return path, or a bipolar or multiple-polar electrode with a short return path, or a stimulation mode with multiple contact electrodes.

14. The stimulator of claim 13, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) in the form of a bipolar electrode.

15. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) positioned at the desired location through imaging technologies or non-imaging navigation system, or a combination thereof.

16. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) positioned at the desired location through fluoroscope, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), global positioning system (GPS), magnetic field, endoscope guided visualization.

17. A stimulation system for treating a nervous symptom or condition, which comprises:

a remote charger for power supply; and

an implantable pulsed-radiofrequency micro-stimulator comprising a low power consumption micro-controller for controlling the working parameters of radiofrequency stimulation pulses by providing a radiofrequency stimulation pattern; and

at least one electrode for generating a pulsed-radiofrequency stimulation at a low amplitude, which is connected with the controller via a wire for delivering the electrical stimulation pattern according to claim 1.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote charger for power supply is a near field inductive coupling, an electromagnetic induction coupling a resonate inductive coupling, or a capacitive coupling, or a light or Radio frequency (RF) spectrum charging system.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the remote charger for power supply is a Class-E power amplifier.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising an external controller for receiving, recording, processing, displaying or transmitting one or more functional or physiological indicators, or electrical stimulation parameters.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a means for measuring one or more functional or physiological indicators of the tissue or nerve surrounding the electrode(s), which is(are) loaded in the electrode(s).

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the micro-controller comprises a transmitter for transmitting the signals to the external controller, a receiver for receiving commends from the external controller.

23. The stimulator of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) fixed into the tissues surrounding the nerve(s) or tissue(s) with anchors.