Method and apparatus for reduction of pain from electric shock therapies

• US 6,438,418 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imperception, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Imperception, Inc.
• Inventors: Brewer, James E., Swerdlow, Charles D., Swerdlow, Neal R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/568,237
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 607/63
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/395 for treating atrial fibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

A method and apparatus for pretreating a patient prior to a therapeutic painful stimulus, comprising the application of pain inhibiting stimuli to a patient prior to an application of the therapeutic painful stimulus. Applying pain inhibiting stimuli comprises the steps of sensing a need for the therapeutic painful stimulus, preparing to deliver the pain inhibiting stimuli to the patient prior to applying the therapeutic painful stimulus, and delivering the pain inhibiting stimuli to the patient prior to applying the therapeutic painful stimulus. The method and apparatus are embodied in modern, fully automatic, fully implantable, single or dual chamber atrial or ventricular cardioverter-defibrillators. The pain inhibiting prepulse method is intended primarily for use in conscious patients but may also be used in sleeping patients.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cardioverting or defibrillating a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:

a set of cardioversion electrodes applicable to the patient'"'"'s body;

means for applying a patient-perceptible stimulus to a portion of the patient'"'"'s body other than the patient'"'"'s heart other than by means of the set of cardioversion electrodes; and

means for delivering a high voltage shock to the patient'"'"'s heart by means of electrodes within the set of cardioversion electrodes within 20 to 500 milliseconds following initiation of the patient perceptible stimulus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for applying the patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for applying electrical stimulation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation of at least 10 volts.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation of less than 1000 volts.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises the means for applying electrical stimulation of less than 100 volts.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation for a period of 0.05 to 25 milliseconds.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for applying the patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for delivering auditory stimulation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for delivering auditory stimulation comprises means for delivering auditory stimulation at an intensity from 0.1 dB(A) to 100 dB(A) above an existing ambient noise level.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for delivering auditory stimulation comprises means for delivering auditory stimulation at an intensity from 5 dB(A) to 15 dB(A) above said existing ambient noise level.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for applying the patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for delivering tactile stimulation.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for applying the patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for applying stimulation to a body part selected from the group of the patient'"'"'s body parts comprising the patient'"'"'s ear, skeletal muscle, bone, or nerve.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 12 wherein the means for delivering the painful therapy comprises means for delivering a cardioversion or defibrillation pulse.

12. An apparatus for delivering a painful treatment to a portion of a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

applying means for delivery of the painful therapy to a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body;

means for applying a patient-perceptible stimulus to a second, portion of the patient'"'"'s body other than the first portion employing means other than the means for delivery of the painful therapy; and

means for delivering the painful therapy within 20 to 500 milliseconds following initiation of the patient-perceptible stimulus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for applying a patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for applying electrical stimulation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation of at least 10 volts.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation of less than 1000 volts.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation of less than 100 volts.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for applying electrical stimulation comprises means for applying electrical stimulation for a period of 0.05 to 25 milliseconds.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for applying a patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for delivering auditory stimulation.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for delivering auditory stimulation comprises means for delivering auditory stimulation at an intensity from 0.1 dB(A) to 100 dB(A) above an existing ambient noise level.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the means for delivering auditory stimulation comprises means for delivering auditory stimulation at an intensity from 5 dB(A) to 15 dB(A) above said existing ambient noise level.

21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for applying a patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for applying tactile stimulation.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the means for applying a patient-perceptible stimulus comprises means for applying stimulation to a body part selected from the group of the patient'"'"'s body parts comprising the patient'"'"'s ear, skeletal muscle, bone, or nerve.