HIGH-FREQUENCY ELECTRICAL NERVE BLOCK

• US 20120296389A1
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuros Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuros Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Fang, Zi-Ping, Snyder, Jon J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3616 Voltage density or current density
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency

Abstract

A method and apparatus that resulted in blocking an action potential in a nerve.

Claims

1. A method of ameliorating peripheral nerve pain in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising

(a) providing, from a waveform generator operatively connected to an implanted electrode contacting the peripheral nerve having a diameter exceeding 3 mm and up to 12 mm in the patient, a waveform at one of a voltage ranging from 4 Vpp to 20 Vpp, or a current ranging from 4 mApp to 26 mApp, to the nerve for an interval sufficient to effect substantially immediate pain relief in the patient, and

(b) optionally repeating step (a) as needed to ameliorate nerve pain.

2. The method of claim 1 where the waveform provided is at least 5 kHz up to 50 kHz.

3. The method of claim 1 where the waveform provided is a sinusoidal waveform at 10 kHz.

6. The method of claim 1 where the nerve is a sciatic nerve.

7. The method of claim 1 where the nerve is a tibial nerve.

8. The method of claim 1 where the interval is controlled by the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 where step (a) uses a mono-, bi-, or tri-polar electrode contacting the affected nerve and contained in a cuff.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cuff has an inner diameter ranging from about 5 mm to about 12 mm.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the interval is about 10 minutes.

12. The method of claim 1 where the current or voltage provided increases magnitude ranging from about 10 seconds to about 60 seconds with a steady ramp up.

13. The method of claim 1 where the electrode has a relatively larger contact surface with the nerve than conventional electrodes.

4-5. -5. (canceled)

14. A method for reversibly blocking an action potential in a nerve of a patient to effect a desired response in the patient, the method comprising

(a) providing, from a waveform generator operatively connected to an implanted electrode contacting the nerve in the patient, a waveform at one of a voltage ranging from 4 Vpp to 20 Vpp, or a current ranging from 4 mApp to 26 mApp, to the nerve for an interval sufficient to effect a substantially immediate response in the patient, and

(b) optionally repeating step (a).

15. The method of claim 14 where the response is pain and the patient experiences pain relief substantially immediately upon application of the electrical waveform.

16. The method of claim 14 where the response is ameliorating spasticity of a muscle enervated by the nerve and the patient experiences spasticity amelioration substantially immediately upon application of the electrical waveform.

17. The method of claim 14 where the response is ameliorating an urge to void a bladder and the patient experiences urge amelioration substantially immediately upon application of the electrical waveform.

18. The method of claim 14 where the waveform provided ranges from 5 kHz to 50 kHz.

19. The method of claim 14 where the waveform provided is a sinusoidal waveform.