SELECTIVE HIGH FREQUENCY SPINAL CORD MODULATION FOR INHIBITING PAIN WITH REDUCED SIDE EFFECTS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130204320A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Alataris, Konstantinos, Walker, Andre B., Parker, Jon, Chitre, Yougandh, Park, Sangsoo Wesley, Thacker, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,326 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 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/323 Interference currents, i.e. treatment by several currents summed in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36062 Spinal stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36089 Addiction or withdrawal from substance abuse such as alcohol or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36157 Current A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3616 Voltage density or current density
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36164 Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36175 Pulse width or duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36178 Burst or pulse train parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36182 Direction of the electrical field, e.g. with sleeve around stimulating electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37241 : providing test stimulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 : User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 : Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 21/133 : by using digital technique

Abstract

Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient'"'"'s spinal chord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a spinal modulation system to deliver a therapy signal to a patient'"'"'s spinal cord region, for treating a patient'"'"'s pain, wherein the spinal modulation system includes

an implantable signal delivery device having two or more electrical contacts implantable proximate to a vertebral level in a range of from about T9 to about T12, and

a signal generator electrically coupleable to the implantable signal delivery device to generate a therapy signal and deliver the therapy signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via at least two of the electrical contacts of the implantable signal delivery device,

the method comprising:

programming the signal generator to generate and deliver the therapy signal to two electrical contacts that are only contralateral to the pain, wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 50 kHz.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapy signal reduces or inhibits contralateral pain without generating paresthesia.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency range is from about 5 kHz to about 15 kHz.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 10 kHz.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal is at a frequency of about 10 kHz.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapy signal reduces or inhibits at least one of low-back pain and leg pain.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal reduces or inhibits both low-back pain and leg pain.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the pain is a first pain and wherein the patient has a second pain, ipsilateral to the first electrical contacts.

10. A method for configuring a spinal modulation system to deliver a therapy signal to a patient'"'"'s spinal cord, for treating a patient'"'"'s pain, wherein the spinal modulation system includes

an implantable signal delivery device having two or more electrical contacts, and

a signal generator electrically coupleable to the implantable signal delivery device to generate a non-paresthesia-generating therapy signal and deliver the non-paresthesia-generating therapy signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via at least one of the electrical contacts of the implantable signal delivery device,

the method comprising:

programming the signal generator to generate and deliver the non-paresthesia-generating therapy signal to only at least one electrical contact positioned contralateral to the pain, wherein at least a portion of the non-paresthesia-generating therapy signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 50 kHz.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the frequency range is from about 5 kHz to about 15 kHz.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 10 kHz.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal is at a frequency of about 10 kHz.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the therapy signal reduces or inhibits at least one of low-back pain and leg pain.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical signal reduces or inhibits both low-back pain and leg pain.

17. A method for configuring a spinal modulation system to deliver a therapy signal to a patient'"'"'s spinal cord, for treating a patient'"'"'s pain, wherein the spinal modulation system includes

a single percutaneous lead having two or more electrical contacts, and

an implantable pulse generator (IPG) coupleable to the percutaneous lead and configured to generate a therapy signal and deliver the therapy signal to the patient'"'"'s spinal cord region via at least one of the electrical contacts on the percutaneous lead,

the method comprising:

implanting the percutaneous lead such that at least one of the electrical contacts is positioned contralateral to the patient'"'"'s pain, relative to a midline of the patient'"'"'s spinal cord; and

programming the IPG to generate and deliver the therapy signal to only the at least one electrical contact positioned contralateral to the patient'"'"'s pain, wherein at least a portion of the signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 50 kHz.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the therapy signal reduces or inhibits contralateral pain without generating paresthesia.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the frequency range is from about 5 kHz to about 15 kHz.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 10 kHz.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal is at a frequency of about 10 kHz.