CAVERNOUS NERVE STIMULATION VIA UNIDIRECTIONAL PROPAGATION OF ACTION POTENTIALS

• US 20110152988A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Whitehurst, Todd K., Haller, Matthew I., McGivern, James P., Bradley, Kerry, He, Tom Xiaohai
• Granted Patent: US 8,712,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for cavernous nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes.

Claims

1. An implantable stimulation device comprising:

a device body;

at least one set of partitioned electrodes disposed on a portion of the device body and configured and arranged for application of electrical stimulation to adjacent tissue, each set of partitioned electrodes comprising a plurality of partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the device body; and

insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other.

2. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the partitioned electrodes are partitioned into short arcs around the circumference of the device body.

3. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of the sets of partitioned electrodes.

4. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation device is a microstimulator and further comprises circuitry configured and arranged for steering an electric field around or longitudinally along the device body using the partitioned electrodes.

5. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the implantable stimulation device comprises a lead forming at least a portion of the device body, wherein at least one of the at least one set of partitioned electrodes is disposed on the lead.

6. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the least one set of partitioned electrodes comprises at least three sets of partitioned electrodes, each set comprising four partitioned electrodes positioned around a circumference of the device body.

7. The implantable stimulation device of claim 6, wherein the implantable stimulation device comprises a lead forming at least a portion of the device body, wherein the at least three sets of partitioned electrodes are disposed on the lead.

8. The implantable stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the partitioned electrodes are individually programmable.

11. A method of stimulating tissue comprising:

providing the implantable stimulation device of claim 1; and

programming stimulation parameters of the implantable stimulation device to deliver stimulus current for steering the electric field around or longitudinally along the device body.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulation device is a microstimulator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein programming stimulation parameters includes activating at least one of the partitioned electrodes, programming each activated partitioned electrode as a cathode, anode or an open circuit, and controlling current flowing from each partitioned electrode that is activated.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the microstimulator comprises at least three sets of the partitioned electrodes, each set comprising four partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the body of the microstimulator.

9. A stimulation system comprising:

a lead;

at least one set of partitioned electrodes disposed on a portion of the lead and configured and arranged for application of electrical stimulation to adjacent tissue;

insulating material separating the partitioned electrodes from each other; and

a microstimulator attached to the lead, the microstimulator containing circuitry to deliver independently programmable current stimulus through at least one of the partitioned electrodes.

10. The stimulation system of claim 9, wherein the lead comprises at least three sets of partitioned electrodes, each set having four partitioned electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead.

15. A method of stimulating tissue comprising:

providing an implantable stimulation device comprising a lead having at least one set of partitioned electrodes disposed on the lead; and

programming stimulation parameters of the implantable stimulation device to activate different partitioned electrodes and program each activated partitioned electrode as a cathode, anode or an open circuit for controlling current flowing from each partitioned electrode that is activated, thereby steering an electric field generated by the activated partitioned electrodes around the lead.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least some of the cathodes are electrically connected.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

driving at least some of the cathodes independently.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

driving at least some of the anodes independently.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the lead comprises at least three sets of partitioned electrodes, each set comprising four electrodes disposed around a circumference of the lead.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the implantable stimulation device further comprises a microstimulator attached to the lead, the microstimulator containing circuitry to deliver independently programmable current stimulus through at least one of the partitioned electrodes.