EXTENDED PAIN RELIEF VIA HIGH FREQUENCY SPINAL CORD MODULATION, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20120172946A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Alataris, Konstantinos, Walker, Andre B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,649,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36175 Pulse width or duty cycle

Abstract

Extended pain relief via high frequency spinal cord modulation, and associated systems and methods. A method for treating a patient in accordance with a particular embodiment includes selecting a neural modulation site to include at least one of a dorsal root entry zone and dorsal horn of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord, and selecting parameters of a neural modulation signal to reduce patient pain for a period of time after ceasing delivery of the signals, the period of time being at least one tenth of one second.

Claims

1. A method for establishing patient treatment parameters, comprising:

selecting a neural modulation site to include at least one of a dorsal root entry zone and dorsal horn of a spinal cord of the patient; and

selecting parameters of a neural modulation signal to address a patient indication for a period of time after at least reducing an intensity of the signals, the period of time being at least one tenth of one second.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting parameters includes selecting the parameters to include a delivery frequency of from about 3 kHz to about 100 kHz.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the period of time is up to about one day.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting parameters includes selecting the parameters to reduce afferent signals transmitted by neurons at the dorsal horn.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the neural modulation signal to reduce patient pain.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein applying the neural modulation signal includes desensitizing peripheral neurons at the dorsal root entry zone.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein applying the neural modulation signal includes desensitizing wide dynamic range neurons at the dorsal horn.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming a patient therapy device to deliver the neural modulation signals in accordance with the selected parameters.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting parameters includes selecting the parameters to reduce patient pain for a period of time after ceasing delivery of the signals.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the parameters to address the patient indication after at least reducing the intensity of the signals without a patient-detectable change in a therapeutic efficacy of the signals.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient indication includes pain, and wherein selecting the parameters to address the patient indication after at least reducing the intensity of the signals includes selecting the parameters to produce a pain reduction effect without a decrease in the effect when the signal intensity is reduced.

12. A method for establishing patient treatment parameters, comprising:

selecting a neural modulation site to include at least one of a dorsal root entry zone and dorsal horn of a spinal cord of the patient; and

selecting parameters of a neural modulation signal to include a frequency of from about 3 kHz to about 100 kHz to reduce patient pain, without creating a sensation of paresthesia in the patient, by (a) desensitizing a wide dynamic range neuron at the dorsal horn, or (b) reducing, suppressing and/or attenuating an afferent nociceptive input to the wide dynamic range neuron, or (c) both (a) and (b).

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the parameters to have at least approximately no effect on the patient'"'"'s normal sensory functions.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising selecting the parameters to have at least approximately no effect on the patient'"'"'s normal motor activity.

15. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

implanting a signal delivery device at least proximate to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord; and

(a) desensitizing a wide dynamic range neuron at the patient'"'"'s dorsal horn, or (b) reducing, suppressing and/or attenuating an afferent nociceptive input to the wide dynamic range neuron, or (c) both (a) and (b) by activating delivery of a neural modulation signal to the patient via the implanted signal delivery device at a frequency of from about 3 kHz to about 100 kHz to reduce patient pain, without creating a sensation of paresthesia in the patient.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein activating delivery of the neural modulation signal includes activating delivery of the neural modulation signal with at least approximately no effect on the patient'"'"'s normal sensory functions.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein activating delivery of the neural modulation signal includes activating delivery of the neural modulation signal with at least approximately no effect on on the patient'"'"'s normal motor activity.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein activating delivery of the neural modulation signal includes activating delivery of the neural modulation signal with at least approximately no effect on on the patient'"'"'s normal proprioception.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein activating delivery of the neural modulation signal includes at least reducing the patient'"'"'s pain.

20. A system for treating patient pain, comprising:

a pulse generator programmed with instructions for automatically delivering a modulation signal at a frequency of from about 3 kHz to about 100 kHz on an intermittent basis, with the signal being off for a period of time of at least one tenth of one second; and

an elongated implantable signal delivery device coupled to the pulse generator and positionable along a patient'"'"'s spinal cord.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the signal is, on a repeated basis, (a) automatically deactivated for a period of at least one second and (b) automatically reactivated at the conclusion of the period.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the signal is, on a repeated basis, (a) automatically deactivated for a period of at least one minute and (b) automatically reactivated at the conclusion of the period.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein the signal is, on a repeated basis, (a) automatically deactivated for a period of at least one hour and (b) automatically reactivated at the conclusion of the period.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein the signal is, on a repeated basis, (a) automatically deactivated for a period of at least one day and (b) automatically reactivated at the conclusion of the period.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the pulse generator is an implantable pulse generator.