MODULAR STIMULATOR FOR TREATMENT OF BACK PAIN, IMPLANTABLE RF ABLATION SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE
First Claim
1. A therapeutic electrical stimulation system comprising:
- an implantable housing;
at least one electrode lead coupled to the housing and having a plurality of electrodes, the electrode lead configured to be implanted adjacent to a spinal tissue;
a first circuitry module disposed within the implantable housing and operatively coupled to the electrode lead, the first circuitry module configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a selected first subset of the plurality of electrodes to cause contraction of a spinal muscle associated with the spinal tissue; and
a second circuitry module disposed within the implantable housing and operatively coupled to the electrode lead, the second circuitry module configured to perform a function selected from the group consisting of;
analgesic stimulation of afferent nerve fibers associated with the spinal tissue;
muscle performance monitoring;
stimulation of efferent nerve fibers associated with the spinal tissue to reduce spasm, and RF ablation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating back pain are provided, in which an implantable stimulator is configured to communicate with an external control system, the implantable stimulator providing a neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy designed to cause muscle contraction to rehabilitate the muscle, restore neural drive and restore spinal stability; the implantable stimulator further including one or more of a number of additional therapeutic modalities, including a module that provides analgesic stimulation; a module that monitors muscle performance and adjusts the muscle stimulation regime; and/or a module that provides longer term pain relief by selectively and repeatedly ablating nerve fibers. In an alternative embodiment, a standalone implantable RF ablation system is described.
213 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A therapeutic electrical stimulation system comprising:
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an implantable housing; at least one electrode lead coupled to the housing and having a plurality of electrodes, the electrode lead configured to be implanted adjacent to a spinal tissue; a first circuitry module disposed within the implantable housing and operatively coupled to the electrode lead, the first circuitry module configured to deliver electrical stimulation to a selected first subset of the plurality of electrodes to cause contraction of a spinal muscle associated with the spinal tissue; and a second circuitry module disposed within the implantable housing and operatively coupled to the electrode lead, the second circuitry module configured to perform a function selected from the group consisting of;
analgesic stimulation of afferent nerve fibers associated with the spinal tissue;
muscle performance monitoring;
stimulation of efferent nerve fibers associated with the spinal tissue to reduce spasm, and RF ablation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An implantable RF ablation system comprising:
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an implantable housing; at least one electrode lead coupled to the housing and having a plurality of electrodes, the electrode lead configured to be implanted adjacent to a target tissue; an RF ablation circuitry module disposed within the implantable housing and operatively coupled to the electrode lead, the RF ablation circuitry module configured to deliver radio frequency energy to a selected subset of the plurality of electrodes to ablation of the target tissue. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification