SELECTIVE HIGH FREQUENCY SPINAL CORD MODULATION FOR INHIBITING PAIN, INCLUDING CEPHALIC AND/OR TOTAL BODY PAIN WITH REDUCED SIDE EFFECTS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130261695A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nevro Corporation
• Inventors: Thacker, James R., Alataris, Konstantinos, Gliner, Bradford Evan
• Granted Patent: US 9,278,215 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 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 Headache or migraine
• 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 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36175 Pulse width or duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

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 cord region from an epidural, cervical location to address at least one of high back pain, mid-back pain, low back pain, and leg pain without creating paresthesia in the patient.

Claims

1. A method of treating a neck or brachial plexus pain with a spinal cord modulation system, comprising:

implanting one or more signal delivery devices proximate to a target location of a patient'"'"'s spinal cord region;

coupling the one or more signal delivery devices to a signal generator; and

configuring the signal generator to generate and deliver a neck or brachial plexus pain therapy signal to the target location, via the one or more implanted signal delivery devices, without generating paresthesia;

wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target location is a cervical vertebral location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cervical vertebral location is between C2-C6, inclusive.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the cervical vertebral location is between C3-C4, inclusive.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the neck or brachial plexus pain is selected from the group consisting of:

cervical facet pain, cervical radiculophathy pain, fibromyalgia pain in the cervical musculature, myofascial pain in the cervical musculature, cervical strain pain, cervicothoracic interspinous bursitis pain, spinal stenosis pain, brachial plexopathy pain, pancoast'"'"'s pain, and thoracic outlet pain.

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

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

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more signal delivery devices include a percutaneous lead having one or more electrodes disposed toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead.

9. A method of treating a neck or brachial plexus pain, comprising:

applying an electrical therapy signal to a cervical vertebral location of a patient'"'"'s spinal cord, wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz, and wherein the electrical therapy signal treats the neck or brachial plexus pain without generating paresthesia in the patient.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the cervical vertebral location is between C2-C6, inclusive.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cervical vertebral location is between C3-C4, inclusive.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the neck or brachial plexus pain is selected from the group consisting of:

cervical facet pain, cervical radiculophathy pain, fibromyalgia pain in the cervical musculature, myofascial pain in the cervical musculature, cervical strain pain, cervicothoracic interspinous bursitis pain, spinal stenosis pain, brachial plexopathy pain, pancoast'"'"'s pain, and thoracic outlet pain.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency range is from about 5 kHz to about 15 kHz.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

implanting one or more signal delivery devices proximate to the cervical vertebral location, wherein the electrical therapy signal is applied to the cervical vertebral location via the one or more signal delivery devices.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

coupling the one or more implanted signal delivery devices to an implanted signal generator, wherein the signal generator is programmed with instructions that, when executed, treat the neck or brachial plexus pain by generating and delivering the electrical therapy signal to the cervical vertebral location.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more signal delivery devices include a percutaneous lead having one or more electrodes disposed toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead.

18. A neck or brachial plexus pain treatment system, comprising:

a spinal cord modulation system having

at least one signal delivery device configured to be implanted proximate to a cervical vertebral location in a patient'"'"'s spinal cord, and

a signal generator programmed with instructions that, when executed, treat a neck or brachial plexus pain by generating and delivering a non-paresthesia-generating electrical therapy signal to the cervical vertebral location, via the at least one signal delivery device,

wherein at least a portion of the electrical therapy signal is at a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the cervical vertebral location is between C2-C6, inclusive.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the cervical vertebral location is between C3-C4, inclusive.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the neck or brachial plexus pain is selected from the group consisting of:

cervical facet pain, cervical radiculophathy pain, fibromyalgia pain in the cervical musculature, myofascial pain in the cervical musculature, cervical strain pain, cervicothoracic interspinous bursitis pain, spinal stenosis pain, brachial plexopathy pain, pancoast'"'"'s pain, and thoracic outlet pain.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the frequency range is from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the frequency range is from about 5 kHz to about 15 kHz.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one signal delivery device includes a percutaneous lead having one or more electrodes disposed toward a distal end of the percutaneous lead.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrical therapy signal includes one or more pulses with a pulse width between about 10 microseconds and about 333 microseconds.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the electrical therapy signal includes one or more pulses with a pulse width between about 25 microseconds and about 166 microseconds.