Modulation of the nervous system for treatment of pain and related disorders

• US 5,861,015 A
• Filed: 05/05/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anuthep Benja-Athon
• Original Assignee: Anuthep Benja-Athon
• Inventors: Benja-Athon, Anuthep
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US08/851,181
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 128/907
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/907 Acupuncture

Abstract

The medical method of treating pain and inflammations including neurogenic inflammation of the visceral or somatic organ known herein as the effector in human body involve and mediate by the afferent nervous system and the autonomic nervous system innervating the visceral or somatic organ. The method is the application of an electrical current stimulus or an electromagnetic stimulus to aforementioned nervous systems innervating adjacent or distant soft tissues known herein as the affector. The technique is the reversibly and percutaneously implanting a pair of anode needle electrode and cathode needle electrode or a concentric needle electrode functioning with an anode and a cathode in the affector and passing of electrical current of sufficient amperage to excite or inhibit the activity of the nerves and the nerve receptors innervating the affector. Electrical current is transmitted from a current generating device through the electrical leads to the electrode(s) and then to the nerves and the nerve receptors. Alternative stimulus is the transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus delivered to the nerves and the nerve receptors by the application of the transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus producing device over the nerves and the nerve receptors innervating the affector.

Claims

1. Medical method of treating pain and inflammations including neurogenic inflammation of the visceral and somatic organs wherein said pain and inflammations involve and are mediated by the nerves of the afferent nervous system and the autonomic nervous system innervating said visceral organ and somatic organ known herein as the effector in the human body or in an animal by the application of a stimulus means to said nerves and the nerve receptors of said systems concurrently innervating the soft tissue which is retinaculum, ligament, tenosynovium, synovium, tendon, tendomuscular, intrafusal fibers, periosteum known herein as the affector of said body comprises

the process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector.

2. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein the process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors comprises the application of a stimulus means which is a direct electrical current having a frequency 1-500 Hertz to said nerve and nerve receptors.

3. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein the process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors comprises the application of a stimulus means which is a transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus to said nerve and nerve receptors.

4. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein said process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector is the application of a 1-500 hertz direct electrical current stimulus in a range of microampere to milliampere via said needle electrode means to said nerves and nerve receptors.

5. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein said process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector involves application of transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus to said nerves and nerve receptors.

6. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein said process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors innervating includes said process reversibly and percutaneously implanting a concentric metallic needle electrode in contact or adjacent to said nerves and nerve receptors.

7. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein said process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector includes reversibly and percutaneously implanting one anode electrode and one cathode electrode which are separated by a small distance in direct contact or adjacent to said nerves and nerve receptors.

8. The medical method according to claim 1 wherein said process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector includes application of transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus in tesla unit to said nerves and nerve receptors.

9. The medical method of treating pain and inflammations including neurogenic inflammation of the visceral and somatic organs wherein said pain and inflammations involve and are mediated by the nerves of the afferent nervous system and the autonomic nervous system innervating said visceral organ and somatic organ known herein as the effector in the human body or in an animal by the application of a stimulus means to said nerves and the nerve receptors of said systems concurrently innervating the soft tissue which is retinaculum, ligament, tenosynovium, synovium, tendon, tendomuscular, intrafusal fibers, periosteum known herein as the affector of said body wherein the process of generating and inhibiting action potential of said nerves and nerve receptors comprises:

the process of reversibly and percutaneously implanting electricity conducting needle electrode means into said affector; and

the process of application of transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus to said nerves and nerve receptors.

10. The medical method according to claim 9 wherein said process of reversibly and percutaneously implanting electricity conducting needle electrode means into said affector is the percutaneous insertion of needle electrode means into said affector wherein said needle electrode means is in contact or adjacent to said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector.

11. The percutaneous insertion of needle electrode means in claim 10 includes inserting a concentric metallic needle electrode which has a range of lengths of 25-125 millimeters, a range of cross-sectional diameters of 0.1 mm-0.71 mm., and an anode and a cathode for the flow of said electrical current stimulus to said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector.

12. The percutaneous insertion of needle electrode means in claim 10 includes inserting one anode needle electrode and one cathode needle electrode for the flow of said electrical current stimulus to said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector.

13. The process according to claim 9 is the reversibly and percutaneously implanting said anode needle electrode and said cathode needle electrode separated by a distance into said affector wherein said electrodes are in contact or adjacent to said nerves and nerve receptors innervating said affector.

14. The implanting steps in claim 13 wherein the step of implanting needle electrodes comprises implanting metallic needle electrodes which have a range of 20-125 millimeters and a range of cross-sectional diameters of 0.1 mm-0.71 mm.