Spinal cord stimulation lead with an anode guard
First Claim
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1. A method of providing pain managing electrical energy with an epidural stimulation lead comprising the steps of:
- implanting the epidural stimulation lead relative to a targeted nerve bundle, wherein the epidural stimulation lead further comprises;
a first electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes;
a second electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein the first electrode array encircles the second electrode array; and
a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors independently couple the first electrode array and the second electrode array to a programmable energy source;
delivering pain-managing electrical energy from the programmable energy source to the first electrode array and the second electrode array through the plurality of conductors;
laterally limiting an applied electric field associated with the delivered pain-managing electrical energy by positively biasing the first electrode array relative to the second electrode array.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an epidural stimulation lead having at least one electrode that substantially encircles another electrode. Operatively, the encircling electrode can be set as an, anode and the encircled electrode can be set as a cathode to generate an electrical field therebetween. The encircling electrode functions in this capacity as an anode guard, which among other things, concentrates the electrical field about the designated cathode and limits the lateral range of a generated electrical field.
138 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of providing pain managing electrical energy with an epidural stimulation lead comprising the steps of:
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implanting the epidural stimulation lead relative to a targeted nerve bundle, wherein the epidural stimulation lead further comprises;
a first electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes;
a second electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes, wherein the first electrode array encircles the second electrode array; and
a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors independently couple the first electrode array and the second electrode array to a programmable energy source;
delivering pain-managing electrical energy from the programmable energy source to the first electrode array and the second electrode array through the plurality of conductors;
laterally limiting an applied electric field associated with the delivered pain-managing electrical energy by positively biasing the first electrode array relative to the second electrode array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of providing pain managing electrical energy with an epidural stimulation lead comprising the steps of:
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implanting the epidural stimulation lead relative to a targeted nerve bundle, wherein the epidural stimulation lead further comprises;
a plurality of electrode arrays that consist of;
a first electrode array; and
a second electrode array, wherein the first electrode array substantially encircles the second electrode array; and
a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors independently couple the first electrode array and the second electrode array to a programmable energy source;
delivering pain-managing electrical energy from the programmable energy source to the first electrode array and the second electrode array through the plurality of conductors;
laterally limiting an applied electric field associated with the delivered pain-managing electrical energy by positively biasing the first electrode array relative to the second electrode array. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A pain-managing system comprising:
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an epidural stimulation lead implanted relative to targeted nerve bundle further comprising;
a plurality of electrode arrays that consist of;
a first electrode array having two or more electrodes; and
a second electrode array having two or more electrodes substantially encircled by the first electrode array;
a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors independently couple the first electrode array and the second electrode array to a programmable energy source;
an inert body to contain the first electrode array and the second electrode array; and
an inert sheath to contain the plurality of conductors;
a programmable energy source electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors and operable to supply pain-managing electrical energy to the first electrode array and the second electrode array through the plurality of conductors;
an applied electric field associated with the delivered pain-managing electrical energy by positively biasing the first electrode array relative to the second electrode array, and wherein the applied electric field is laterally limited by the biasing. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A pain-managing system comprising:
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an epidural stimulation lead implanted relative to targeted nerve bundle further comprising;
a plurality of electrode arrays that consist of;
a first electrode array; and
a second electrode array substantially encircled by the first electrode array, wherein the second electrode array has a greater than or equal number of electrodes as the first electrode array;
a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors independently couple the first electrode array and the second electrode array to a programmable energy source;
an inert body to contain the plurality of electrodes; and
an inert sheath to contain the plurality of conductors; and
a programmable energy source electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors and operable to supply pain-managing electrical energy to the first electrode array and the second electrode array through the plurality of conductors.
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Specification