IMPLANTABLE PULSED-RADIOFREQUENCY MICRO-STIMULATION SYSTEM

• US 20130138178A1
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UniMed Investment Inc.
• Original Assignee: UniMed Investment Inc.
• Inventors: Lin, Chii-Wann, Lin, Mu-Lien, Lu, Shey-Shi, Shih, Win-Pin, Wen, Yeong-Ray, Chiu, Hung-Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/715,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20130138178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36153 Voltage A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/00 Radiation therapy ultrasound therapy A61N7/00; devices or apparatus applicable to both therapy and diagnosis A61B6/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for treating a nervous symptom or condition in a subject with a pulsed-radiofrequency stimulation system with a low voltage to overcome the disadvantages of the known related stimulation systems.

Claims

1. A method for treating a chronic pain in a subject, comprising:

placing at least one electrode on or around an appropriate location of the central or peripheral nervous system of the subject; and

generating a pulse-radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation at an amplitude less than 20 volts and applying the PRF stimulation to the appropriate location via the electrode(s).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) exposed on or around an appropriate location of the spinal cord of the subject.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) exposed on or around a dorsal root ganglion or a spinal ganglion of spine or a trigeminal ganglion of the 5^th cranial nerve, or basal ganglia, hippocampus of brain, cerebellum, or an autonomic nerve, or a peripheral nerve.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) exposed on or around a dorsal root ganglion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the chronic pain is back pain.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the PRF stimulation has a pulse frequency of 4 kHz-1 MHz.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the PRF stimulation has a pulse frequency of 50 kHz-1 MHz.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the PRF stimulation has a pulse frequency of 450-550 kHz.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the PRF stimulation has a pulse frequency of 500 kHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the amplitude is in a range from +10 to −

10 volts.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the PRF stimulation has a pulse rate of 1-5 Hz.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the PRF stimulation has a pulse rate of 2 Hz.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the PRF stimulation has a waveform of monophasic rectangular pulse shape, a bi-phasic pulse shape, or a sinusoidal or triangular pulse shape.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) in the form of two electrodes, or one electrode which is configured as a uni-polar with a long return path, or a bipolar or multiple-polar electrode with a short return path, or a stimulation mode with multiple contact electrodes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) in the form of a bipolar electrode.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) positioned at the appropriate location through imaging technologies or non-imaging navigation system, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) positioned at the appropriate location through fluoroscope, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), global positioning system (GPS), magnetic field, endoscope guided visualization.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode(s) is(are) fixed into the tissues surrounding the nerve(s) or tissue(s) with anchors.

19. A method for treating back pain in a subject, comprising:

placing at least one electrode on or around a dorsal root ganglion of the subject; and

generating a pulse-radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation at an amplitude less than 20 volts and having a pulse frequency of 500 kHz and a pulse rate of 2 Hz, and applying the PRF stimulation to the dorsal root ganglion via the electrode(s).