MULTI-FREQUENCY NEURAL TREATMENTS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130096644A1
• 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 8,774,926 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:

positioning or instructing positioning of one or more electrodes proximate to the patient'"'"'s dorsal root ganglion; and

applying or instructing application of a high frequency blocking signal to the dorsal root ganglion, via at least one of the one or more electrodes, 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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

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

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the low frequency signal is at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 40 Hz to about 500 Hz.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the low frequency signal induces paresthesia.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein applying or instructing the application of the high frequency blocking signal alleviates the patient'"'"'s discomfort resulting from the paresthesia.

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

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

8. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning or instructing positioning of one or more electrodes proximate the patient'"'"'s dorsal root ganglion includes implanting or instructing implantation of a percutaneous lead having the one or more electrodes toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead.

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

applying or instructing application of an electrical therapy signal to the patient'"'"'s dorsal root ganglion,

wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.

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

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency range is from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency range is from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein applying or instructing application of the electrical therapy signal includes applying or instructing application of electrical therapy signal without producing paresthesia.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein applying or instructing application of the electrical therapy signal includes applying or instructing application of the electrical therapy signal via at least one electrode arranged proximate to the patient'"'"'s dorsal root ganglion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrode is disposed toward a distal end of a lead.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

coupling the lead to an implantable signal generator configured to generate the electrical therapy signal.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

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