SPINAL CORD STIMULATION TO TREAT PAIN

• US 20160166835A1
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dirk D.E. Ridder
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: De Ridder, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 11,633,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36153 Voltage A61N1/3616 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37247 User interfaces, e.g. input or presentation means

Abstract

A system and method for treating pain without paresthesia by spinal cord stimulation.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method of treating chronic pain in a patient with spinal cord stimulation, the method comprising:

storing one or more operating parameters for an electrical stimulation waveform, wherein the electrical stimulation waveform exhibits waveform spikes repeating at a rate between 1,000 Hz to 10,000 Hz;

operating an implanted stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation according to the one or more operating parameters of the electrical stimulation waveform, wherein the electrical stimulation is adapted to modulate neuronal activity in the patient without causing paresthesia in the patient; and

applying the electrical stimulation to the patient through one or more electrodes of an electrical lead implanted within an epidural space of the patient to treat the chronic pain of the patient without causing paresthesia in the patient.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein multiple waveform spikes are provided in groups in a repeating pattern within the electrical stimulation generated by the implanted stimulation generator, wherein groups are separated by respective quiescent periods.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical stimulation is an analog waveform exhibiting waveform spikes.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the electrical stimulation is an amplitude modulated waveform.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the electrical stimulation is a frequency modulated waveform.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the applying treats pain resulting from failed back surgery syndrome.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the applying treats torso and leg pain of the patient.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the applying treats neuropathic pain.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the applying treats nociceptive pain.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the applying applies electrical stimulation using one or more electrodes disposed within the epidural space of the patient between T8 and T12 vertebral levels.

19. A method of treating chronic pain in a patient with spinal cord stimulation, the method comprising:

storing one or more operating parameters for an electrical stimulation pattern, wherein the electrical stimulation pattern comprises stimulation pulses repeating at a rate between 1,000 Hz to 10,000 Hz;

operating an implanted stimulation generator to generate electrical stimulation according to the one or more operating parameters of the electrical stimulation pattern, wherein the electrical stimulation is adapted to modulate neuronal activity in the patient without causing paresthesia in the patient; and

applying the electrical stimulation to the patient through one or more electrodes of an electrical lead implanted within an epidural space of the patient to treat the chronic pain of the patient without causing paresthesia in the patient.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein multiple stimulation pulses are provided in groups in a repeating pattern within the electrical stimulation generated by the implanted stimulation generator, wherein groups are separated by respective quiescent periods.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the applying treats pain resulting from failed back surgery syndrome.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the applying treats torso and leg pain of the patient.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the applying treats neuropathic pain.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein the applying treats nociceptive pain.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein the applying applies electrical stimulation using one or more electrodes disposed within the epidural space of the patient between T8 and T12 vertebral levels.

26. An implantable stimulation generator for treating chronic pain in a patient using spinal cord stimulation, the implantable stimulation generator comprising:

a battery for powering the implantable stimulation generator;

stimulation generating circuitry configured for generating electrical stimulation for delivery to tissue of the patient;

a connector portion for connecting to one or more stimulation leads; and

a controller for controlling the implantable stimulation generator, wherein (i) the controller controls generation of electrical stimulation according to one or more stored operating parameters for an electrical stimulation waveform, the electrical stimulation waveform exhibiting waveform spikes repeating at a rate between 1,000 Hz to 10,000 Hz, the generated electrical stimulation being adapted to modulate neuronal activity in the patient without causing paresthesia in the patient, and (ii) the controller causes the generated electrical stimulation to be supplied to the one or more leads to treat the chronic pain of the patient using spinal cord stimulation without causing paresthesia in the patient.

27. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 26 wherein multiple waveform spikes are provided in groups in a repeating pattern within the electrical stimulation generated by the implanted stimulation generator, wherein groups are separated by respective quiescent periods.

28. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 26 wherein the electrical stimulation is an analog waveform exhibiting waveform spikes.

29. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 28 wherein the electrical stimulation is an amplitude modulated waveform.

30. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 28 wherein the electrical stimulation is a frequency modulated waveform.

31. An implantable stimulation generator for treating chronic pain in a patient using spinal cord stimulation, the implantable stimulation generator comprising:

a battery for powering the implantable stimulation generator;

stimulation generating circuitry configured for generating electrical pulses for delivery to tissue of the patient;

a connector portion for connecting to one or more stimulation leads; and

a controller for controlling the implantable stimulation generator, wherein (i) the controller controls generation of electrical pulses according to one or more stored operating parameters for an electrical stimulation pattern, the electrical stimulation pattern exhibiting respective pulses repeating at a rate between 1,000 Hz to 10,000 Hz, the generated electrical pulses being adapted to modulate neuronal activity in the patient without causing paresthesia in the patient, and (ii) the controller causes the generated electrical pulses to be supplied to the one or more leads to treat the chronic pain of the patient using spinal cord stimulation without causing paresthesia in the patient.

32. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 31 wherein multiple stimulation pulses are provided in groups in a repeating pattern within the electrical stimulation generated by the implanted stimulation generator, wherein groups are separated by respective quiescent periods.

33. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 31 wherein the controller pseudo-randomly varies a pulse repetition frequency for the pulses within the electrical stimulation pattern.

34. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 31 wherein the controller applies one or more quiescent intervals within the electrical stimulation pattern.

35. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 34 wherein each quiescent interval is between approximately 10 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds.

36. The implantable stimulation generator of claim 31 wherein pulses within the electrical stimulation pattern have a pulse width of approximately 1 millisecond.