System and Method for Electrical Stimulation of the Lumbar Vertebral Column
First Claim
1. A method of treating discogenic lumbar back pain in a patient comprising:
- positioning a plurality of electrodes within an anterior epidural space of the patient to a position adjacent to a posterior longitudinal ligament and/or a posterior annulus fibrosus;
generating one or more electrical impulses with a pulse generator; and
transmitting the electrical impulses through said electrodes to one or more nerves in said posterior longitudinal ligament and/or posterior annulus fibrosus, wherein the electrical impulses at least partially relieve pain associated with the discogenic back pain without producing significant heat-damage to any tissue of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed methods and devices treat chronic lower back pain from degenerated or injured intervertebral discs. Electrodes connected to a pulse generator deliver electrical impulses to nerves located within the posterior longitudinal ligament and annulus fibrosus of lumbar intervertebral discs. The stimulation reduces back pain reversibly, adjustably, and with almost complete coverage of the pain-generating region. A temporary percutaneous lead and a permanent paddle lead are used. The percutaneous lead, designed to prevent inappropriate stimulation of the thecal sac, is inserted using a specially-designed introducer cannula and lead blank. The paddle lead is configured individually for implantation in the anterior epidural space of each patient. Electrical stimulation parameters may also be selected so as to ablate the nerves, using non-thermal irreversible electroporation, or using joule heating wherein a thermal insulator covers substantially all of the thecal sac, thereby shielding the thecal sac from potential heat damage.
111 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method of treating discogenic lumbar back pain in a patient comprising:
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positioning a plurality of electrodes within an anterior epidural space of the patient to a position adjacent to a posterior longitudinal ligament and/or a posterior annulus fibrosus; generating one or more electrical impulses with a pulse generator; and transmitting the electrical impulses through said electrodes to one or more nerves in said posterior longitudinal ligament and/or posterior annulus fibrosus, wherein the electrical impulses at least partially relieve pain associated with the discogenic back pain without producing significant heat-damage to any tissue of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device for treating discogenic lumbar back pain in a patient comprising:
a plurality of electrodes that is coupled to an electrical pulse generator;
wherein the plurality of electrodes is configured to be positioned within an anterior epidural space of the patient at a position adjacent to a posterior longitudinal ligament and/or a posterior annulus fibrosus;
wherein the pulse generator is configured to transmit electrical impulses through said electrodes; and
wherein said electrical impulses are configured to at least partially relieve pain that is associated with one or more nerves located in the posterior longitudinal ligament and/or the posterior annulus fibrosus pain without producing significant heat-damage to any tissue of the patient.- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50)
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48. A device for treating discogenic lumbar back pain in a patient comprising:
a plurality of electrodes that is coupled to an electrical pulse generator; and
a thermal insulator;
wherein the plurality of electrodes and the thermal insulator are configured to be positioned within an anterior epidural space of the patient at a position adjacent to a posterior longitudinal ligament and/or a posterior annulus fibrosus;
wherein the pulse generator is configured to transmit electrical impulses through said electrodes;
wherein the electrical impulses are configured to relieve pain in the patient by irreversibly damaging one or more nerve in the posterior longitudinal ligament and/or posterior annulus fibrosis;
wherein said damaging is by joule heating and/or by dielectric heating of proteins; and
wherein the thermal insulator is configured to cover a cauda equina or thecal sac such that said cauda equina or said thecal sac is substantially shielded from said joule heating and/or from said dielectric heating of proteins.- View Dependent Claims (49)
Specification