SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITIONING IMPLANTED DEVICES IN A PATIENT
First Claim
1. A method for treating multiple patients, comprising:
- for each of a plurality of patients, receiving a target location from which to deliver a modulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord;
for each of the plurality of patients, implanting a signal delivery device within a vertebral foramen of the patient, and positioning an electrical contact carried by the signal delivery device to be within ±
5 mm. of the target location, without the use of fluoroscopy; and
for each of the plurality of patients, activating the electrical contact to modulate neural activity at the spinal cord.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for positioning implanted devices in a patient are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes, for each of a plurality of patients, receiving a target location from which to deliver a modulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord. The method further includes implanting a signal delivery device within a vertebral foramen of each patient, and positioning an electrical contact carried by the signal delivery device to be within ±5 mm. of the target location, without the use of fluoroscopy. The method can still further include, for each of the plurality of patients, activating the electrical contact to modulate neural activity at the spinal cord. In further particular embodiments, RF signals, ultrasound, magnetic fields, and/or other techniques are used to locate the signal delivery device.
-
Citations
61 Claims
-
1. A method for treating multiple patients, comprising:
-
for each of a plurality of patients, receiving a target location from which to deliver a modulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord; for each of the plurality of patients, implanting a signal delivery device within a vertebral foramen of the patient, and positioning an electrical contact carried by the signal delivery device to be within ±
5 mm. of the target location, without the use of fluoroscopy; andfor each of the plurality of patients, activating the electrical contact to modulate neural activity at the spinal cord. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
-
implanting an implantable signal delivery system beneath the patient'"'"'s skin and into a vertebral foramen of at least one of the patient'"'"'s vertebra, the signal delivery system including a signal delivery device having at least one electrical contact; emitting a locator signal from the signal delivery system; detecting the locator signal from a position external to the patient; based at least in part on detecting the locator signal, adjusting a position of the signal delivery device relative to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord; and directing a therapy signal from the electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A method for treating a patient, comprising:
-
placing a plurality of RF detectors on a patient'"'"'s skin, along the patient'"'"'s spine; inserting a stylet and a lead body carried by the stylet beneath the patient'"'"'s skin and into a vertebral foramen of at least one of the patient'"'"'s vertebra, the lead body carrying a plurality of electrical contacts; emitting an RF locator signal from the stylet; detecting the RF locator signal at the RF detectors; based at least in part on detecting the RF signal at the RF detectors, adjusting a lateral position of the lead relative to the patient'"'"'s midline; removing the stylet from the lead body and the patient; and directing a therapy signal from at least one of the electrical contacts carried by the lead body to neural tissue of the patient at a frequency of from about 3 kHz to about 50 kHz to treat chronic low back pain in the patient. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
-
44. A patient treatment system, comprising:
-
a signal delivery system that includes a patient-implantable signal delivery device coupleable to a power source to deliver a neural modulation signal; a signal transmission system carried by the signal delivery system to transmit a locator signal; and an external signal detector that is movable relative to the signal delivery device and positionable to detect the locator signal wirelessly through the patient'"'"'s skin, the signal detector having a releasable fixation element positioned to releasably secure the signal detector to the patient'"'"'s skin. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
-
-
59. A patient treatment system, comprising:
-
a signal delivery system that includes; a patient-implantable, elongated signal delivery lead having an axial opening; a therapy contact carried by the signal delivery lead and coupleable to a signal generator to deliver a neural modulation signal; and a stylet removably received in the axial opening; a signal transmission system carried by the signal delivery system, the signal transmission system including a signal emitter carried by the stylet and coupleable to a power source; an external signal detector configured to detect a locator signal emitted by the signal emitter, the signal detector being movable relative to the signal delivery device, the signal detector having an array of detection elements and a releasable fixation element positioned to releasably secure the signal detector to the patient'"'"'s skin; and a display device operatively coupled to the signal detector to present an indication of individual signal strengths received at the corresponding individual signal detectors. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61)
-
Specification