MULTI-FREQUENCY NEURAL TREATMENTS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130096643A1
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Published: 04/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Fang, Zi-Ping, Caparso, Anthony V., Erickson, Brian J., Alataris, Konstantinos, Walker, Andre B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,768,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Multi-frequency neural treatments and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes at least reducing patient pain by applying a first electrical signal to a first target location of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region at a frequency in a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz, and applying a second electrical signal to a second target location of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.

Claims

1. A method for alleviating patient pain or discomfort, comprising:

applying or instructing application of a high frequency blocking signal to the dorsal column of the patient,

wherein the high frequency blocking signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz, and

wherein the high frequency blocking signal inhibits or prevents the patient'"'"'s sensation of pain without using paresthesia to mask the patient'"'"'s sensation of pain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency range is from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency range is from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

implanting or instructing implantation of a percutaneous lead into the epidural space, wherein the percutaneous lead includes one or more electrodes toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead, and wherein implanting or instructing the implantation of the percutaneous lead positions the one or more electrodes proximate to a target location, and

wherein the high frequency blocking signal is applied to the dorsal column via the one or more electrodes toward the distal end of the percutaneous lead.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the high frequency signal does not decrease or eliminate transmission of motor control impulses.

2. A method for alleviating patient pain or discomfort, comprising:

applying or instructing application of a low frequency stimulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region, wherein the low frequency stimulation signal is at a frequency in a first frequency range of from about 40 Hz to about 500 Hz, and wherein the low frequency stimulation signal induces paresthesia to mask the patient'"'"'s sensation of pain; and

applying or instructing application of a high frequency blocking signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region, wherein the high frequency blocking signal is at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz, and wherein the high frequency blocking signal alleviates the patient'"'"'s discomfort resulting from the paresthesia.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency range is from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the frequency range is from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

implanting or instructing implantation of a percutaneous lead into the epidural space, wherein the percutaneous lead includes one or more electrodes toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead, and wherein the implantation of the percutaneous lead positions the one or more electrodes proximate to a target location, and

wherein the high frequency blocking signal is applied to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via the one or more electrodes toward the distal end of the percutaneous lead.

9. A method for alleviating patient pain or discomfort, comprising:

implanting or instructing implantation of one or more electrodes proximate to a target location in the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region; and

applying or instructing application of an electrical therapy signal to the spinal cord region, via at least one electrode, to alleviate patient pain or discomfort, without the electrical therapy signal generating paresthesia.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical therapy signal is a high frequency blocking signal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein implanting or instructing the implantation of one or more electrodes proximate the target location includes implanting or instructing the implantation of a percutaneous lead in the epidural space, wherein the one or more electrodes are located toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

coupling or instructing coupling of the percutaneous lead to an implantable signal generator configured to generate the electrical therapy signal.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying or instructing application of a low frequency stimulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical therapy signal is applied at a current amplitude between about 2 mA and about 20 mA.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrical therapy signal is applied at a duty cycle of less than 50%.

29. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical therapy signal does not decrease or eliminate transmission of motor control impulses.

19. A method for alleviating patient pain or discomfort, without relying on paresthesia or tingling to mask the patient'"'"'s sensation of the pain, comprising:

implanting or instructing implantation of a percutaneous lead in the patient'"'"'s epidural space, wherein the percutaneous lead includes at least one electrode, and wherein implanting or instructing implantation of the percutaneous lead includes positioning the at least one electrode proximate to a target location in the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region;

implanting or instructing implantation of a signal generator in the patient;

electrically coupling the percutaneous lead to the signal generator; and

programming or instructing programming of the signal generator to generate and deliver an electrical therapy signal to the spinal cord region, via the at least one electrode, without relying on paresthesia or tingling to mask the patient'"'"'s sensation of the pain.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical therapy signal is a high frequency blocking signal.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

applying or instructing the application of a low frequency stimulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

applying or instructing the application of a low frequency stimulation signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical therapy signal is applied at a current amplitude between about 2 mA and about 20 mA.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical therapy signal is applied at a duty cycle of less than 50%.