Spinal cord stimulation as a treatment for addiction to nicotine and other chemical substances

• US 6,233,488 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carl A. Hess
• Original Assignee: Carl A. Hess
• Inventors: Hess, Carl A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H.
• Application Number:
  US09/344,833
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 607/58, 607/43, 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/58
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• 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 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A new method for suppressing chemical substance craving comprises an electrical stimulation of the spinal cord using one or more implantable leads containing at least two conducting electrodes. The method may be used to suppress craving for alcohol, narcotics, cocaine, and amphetamines. The method is particularly suited to the suppression of nicotine craving.

Claims

1. A method for suppressing chemical substance craving comprising the steps of:

(a) implanting a lead comprised of at least two electrodes into the epidural space of a human body overlying the spinal cord;

(b) connecting the lead to a lead extension connector;

(c) connecting the lead extension connector to a power source capable of generating electrical power; and

(d) varying at least one of the characteristics of the electrical power generated by the power source for a time period sufficient to suppress the chemical substance dependence of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical substance is nicotine and the polarity of the electrodes is varied at the same time as at least one of the characteristics of the electrical power.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein variation of the polarity of the electrodes is achieved by activating at least two electrodes per lead up to the maximum number of electrodes contained on the lead.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the number of electrodes activated per lead ranges from at least two up to eight electrodes per lead.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the number of electrodes activated per lead ranges from at least two up to four electrodes per lead.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein three electrodes are activated per lead.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein one of the characteristics of electrical power that is varied is the amplitude.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein amplitude is varied between about 0 volts to about 15 volts and wherein the voltage chosen is as high as can be tolerated by the patient so as to achieve maximum stimulation.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein amplitude is varied between about 0.1 volts to about 8 volts and wherein the voltage chosen is as high as can be tolerated by the patient so as to achieve maximum stimulation.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein amplitude is varied between about 1 volts to about 6 volts and wherein the voltage chosen is as high as can be tolerated by the patient so as to achieve maximum stimulation.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein amplitude is varied between about 1 volts to about 4 volts and wherein the voltage chosen is as high as can be tolerated by the patient so as to achieve maximum stimulation.

12. The method of claim 2 wherein one of the characteristics of electrical power that is varied is the pulse width.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the pulse width is from about 0 to about 450 microseconds.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the pulse width is from about 180 to about 270 microseconds.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the pulse width is from about 240 to about 270 microseconds.

16. The method of claim 2 wherein one of the characteristics of electrical power that is varied is the rate.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the rate is from about 0 to about 150 cps.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the rate is from about 25 to about 80 cps.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the rate is from about 50 to about 80 cps.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein the number of leads implanted into the spinal cord ranges from 1 lead to 10 leads.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the number of leads implanted into the spinal cord ranges from 1 lead to 4 leads.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the number of leads implanted into the spinal cord ranges from 1 lead to 2 leads.

23. The method claim 20 wherein the number of leads implanted into the spinal cord is 2.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the number of electrodes per lead ranges from between 2 to 16 per lead and wherein the number or electrodes per lead is the same or different.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the number of electrodes per lead ranges from between 4 to 8 per lead.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the number of electrodes per lead is 4.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein the lead or leads are placed percutaneously.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein the lead or leads are placed surgically.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein the lead or leads are implanted so as to range from the sacral position to the high cervical position in the spinal cord.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the lead or leads are implanted from the upper lumbar to the lower cervical position in the spinal cord.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein the lead or leads are implanted from the lower thoracic to the higher thoracic position in the spinal cord.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein the lead or leads are implanted from the lower thoracic to the middle thoracic position in the spinal cord.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein computer programming is employed to enable communication between the lead or leads and the lead or lead electrodes to provide a plurality of possible combinations with multiple leads and lead electrodes.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the lead or leads are positioned so that the lead or leads are parallel to the midline of the spinal cord and wherein the lead or leads are to the right of the midline.

35. The method of claim 29 wherein the lead or leads are positioned so that the lead or leads are parallel to the midline of the spinal cord and wherein the lead or leads are to the left of the midline.

36. The method of claim 29 wherein the lead or leads are positioned so that the lead or leads are parallel to the midline of the spinal cord and wherein the lead or leads are directly on the midline.

37. The method of claim 29 wherein more than one lead is implanted so that the leads are positioned to the right and left of the midline of the spinal cord.

38. The method of claim 29 wherein the lead or leads are positioned oblique to the midline.

39. The method of claim 29 wherein the lead or leads are positioned transverse to the midline.

40. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of treatment with a combination therapy.

41. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of treatment with a pharmacologic therapy.

42. The method of claim 2 comprising the additional step of treatment with a behavioral therapy.

43. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical substance is nicotine.

44. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical substance is alcohol.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical substance is a narcotic.

46. The method of claim 1 wherein the chemical substance is an amphetamine.

47. The method of claim 1 wherein the power source means is located external to the human body.

48. The method of claim 1 wherein the power source means is located in an internal portion of the human body.

49. The method of claim 1 wherein the implanted lead or leads remain in place for a time period between about 1 month to about 10 years.

50. The method of claim 1 wherein the implanted lead or leads remain in place for a time period between about 1 year to about 5 years.

51. The method of claim 1 wherein the implanted lead or leads remain in place for a time period between about 1 year to about 2 years.

52. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of terminating stimulation for a time period between about 1 day to about 6 months to evaluate the possibility of explantation of the lead.

53. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of terminating stimulation for a time period between about 2 weeks to about 3 months to evaluate the possibility of explantation of the lead.

54. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of terminating stimulation for a time period between about 1 month to about 2 months to evaluate the possibility of explantation of the lead.

55. A method for suppressing chemical substance craving comprising the steps of:

(a) implanting one or more leads comprised of at least two electrodes into the epidural space of a human body overlying the spinal cord in the sacral to high cervical position;

(b) connecting the lead to a lead extension connector;

(c) connecting the lead extension connector to a power source capable of generating electrical power; and

varying the amplitude of the electrical power from between about 0 to about 15 volts, varying the pulse width of the electrical power from about 0 to about 450 microseconds and varying the rate of the electrical power from about 0 to about 150 cps for a time period sufficient to suppress the chemical substance dependence of the patient.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the chemical substance is nicotine.

57. A method for suppressing nicotine craving comprising the steps of:

(a) implanting two leads comprised of between four to eight electrodes each into the epidural space of a human body overlying the spinal cord in the throracic region;

(b) connecting the lead to a lead extension connector;

(c) connecting the lead extension connector to an internal receiver capable or receiving power from an external source and transmitting said power as electrical energy to the implanted lead; and

(d) varying the amplitude of the electrical power from between about 0 to about 4 volts, varying the pulse width of the electrical power from about 240 to about 290 microseconds and varying the rate of the electrical power from about 80 to about 120 cps for a time period sufficient to suppress the nicotine dependence of the patient.