COMBINATION AND ELEECTRICAL STIMULATING AND INFUSION MEDICAL DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20120029420A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley D. Vilims, William J. Rittman III
• Original Assignee: Bradley D. Vilims, William J. Rittman III
• Inventors: Rittman, William J. III, Vilims, Bradley D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,323,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0043 characterised by structural features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to the spine and nervous system. The stimulation lead includes electrodes that may be selectively positioned along various portions of the stimulation lead in order to precisely direct electrical energy to ablate or electrically stimulate the target tissue. The invention also includes a method of activating electrodes in the electrical stimulation lead whereby an ablative lesion can be formed in a desired shape and size. The invention further includes a method of managing pain in a sacrum of a patient, and a method of assembling an electrical stimulation device.

Claims

1. An electrical treatment device comprising:

a handle having proximal and distal ends, said proximal end of said handle including an electrical receptacle formed therein communicating with a source of RF energy said handle having a pair of notches formed on opposite sides of said handle for facilitating grasping by the user;

a stimulation lead extending from said distal end of said handle, said stimulation lead having a curvature along substantially a length of said stimulation lead, said stimulation lead having a plurality of electrodes spaced along said stimulation lead, said electrodes communicating with said receptacle whereby RF energy is selectively conducted to said electrodes;

a temperature-sensing element associated with each of said electrodes for measuring temperatures at said electrodes; and

said distal end of said stimulation lead incorporating a sharpened tip for penetrating tissue of a patient.

2. A treatment device, as claimed in claim 1, further including:

a plug connected to said electrical receptacle, said plug communicating with a conductor for electrically coupling said treatment device with an RF generator.

3. A method of assembling an electrical stimulation lead, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of stimulation lead sections, at least one of said plurality of sections being a non-conductive section, and at least one other of said segments being a conductive section;

providing a mating connection between adjacent sections of said plurality of segments; and

locking adjacent sections to one another by engagement of the sections with one another.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

a first section has a key formed at an end thereof, and an adjacent section has a keyway for receiving the key, thereby providing locking engagement between the sections.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

a first section has a plurality of splines extending therefrom, and an adjacent section has an opening for receiving the splines thereby providing locking engagement between the sections.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

a first section has a conductive extension extending from one end thereof, and an adjacent section has an opening for receiving the conductive extension therein thereby providing engagement between the sections.

7. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

a first section has a threaded conductive extension extending from one end thereof, and an adjacent section has a threaded opening for receiving the threaded conductive extension, thereby providing locking engagement between the sections.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

a first section has an opening extending therethrough, and an adjacent section has an opening extending therethrough, and an interconnecting peg is placed within the openings of the adjacent sections to interconnect the adjacent sections thereby providing locking engagement between the sections.

9. A device, as claimed in claim 3, further including:

a sharpened distal tip integral with a most distal section and wherein said most distal segment is conductive.

10. A method of managing SI joint pain in a sacrum of a patient, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a stimulation lead having at least one electrode selectively placed along said stimulation lead;

inserting the stimulation lead into a patient in a position to lie captured under an ilium of the patient and in contact with a sacrum of the patient, on or directly medial to a dorsal SI joint of the patient.

activating said at least one electrode in order to denervate tissue surrounding the stimulation lead, including lateral branches of nerves within a defined enclosed space between the ilium and sacrum and spaced from an origin of the lateral branches;

11. A method, as claimed in claim 10, further including the step of:

infusing through said stimulation lead at least one chemical selected from the group consisting of an anesthetic, a neurolytic, a proliferant, and a nutrient.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said at least one electrode includes a plurality of electrodes spaced along a length of said stimulation lead.