Fully implantable neurostimulator for autonomic nerve fiber stimulation as a therapy for urinary and bowel dysfunction
First Claim
1. A method for treating a patient with urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence comprising:
- providing at least one stimulator having at least two electrodes and a controller;
implanting the at least one stimulator adjacent to at least one parasympathetic target that innervates at least one urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure;
providing operating power to the at least one simulator;
providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulator;
generating inhibitory stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and
delivering the inhibitory stimulation pulses to nerves and tissue adjacent to the at least two electrodes to inhibit parasympathetic input to said urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure in order to treat urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence;
wherein the stimulator has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one parasympathetic target.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable stimulator(s), small enough to be located near or adjacent to an autonomic nerve(s) innervating urinary and/or gastrointestinal structures, uses a power source/storage device, such as a rechargeable battery. Periodic recharging of such a power source/storage device is accomplished, for example, by inductive coupling with an external appliance. The small stimulator provides a means of stimulating a nerve(s) or other tissue when desired, without the need for external appliances during the stimulation session. When necessary, external appliances are used for the transmission of data to and/or from the stimulator(s) and for the transmission of power, if necessary. In a preferred embodiment, the system is capable of open- and closed-loop operation. In closed-loop operation, at least one implant includes at least one sensor, and the sensed condition is used to adjust stimulation parameters.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for treating a patient with urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence comprising:
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providing at least one stimulator having at least two electrodes and a controller; implanting the at least one stimulator adjacent to at least one parasympathetic target that innervates at least one urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure; providing operating power to the at least one simulator; providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulator; generating inhibitory stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and delivering the inhibitory stimulation pulses to nerves and tissue adjacent to the at least two electrodes to inhibit parasympathetic input to said urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure in order to treat urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence; wherein the stimulator has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one parasympathetic target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for treating a patient with urinary and/or fecal dysfunction comprising:
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providing at least one stimulator having at least two electrodes and a controller; implanting the at least one stimulator adjacent to at least one parasympathetic target that innervates at least one urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure; providing operating power to the at least one stimulator; providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulator; generating inhibitory stimulation pulses with said at least one stimulator in accordance with the stimulation parameters; delivering the inhibitory stimulation pulses to nerve fibers adjacent to the at least two electrodes to inhibit parasympathetic input to said urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure in order to treat urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence; generating excitatory stimulation pulses with said at least one stimulator in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and delivering the excitatory stimulation pulses to nerves and tissue adjacent to the at least two electrodes in order to treat urinary and/or fecal retention; wherein the stimulator has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one parasympathetic target. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for treating a patient with urinary and/or bowel dysfunction comprising:
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providing at least one stimulator having at least two electrodes and a controller; implanting the at least one stimulator adjacent to at least one sympathetic target that innervates at least one urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure; providing operating power to the at least one stimulator; providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulator; generating stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and delivering the stimulation pulses to nerves and tissue adjacent to the at least two electrodes in order to treat urinary and/or bowel dysfunction; wherein the stimulator has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one sympathetic target; the stimulation pulses comprise inhibitory stimulation pulses; and the urinary and/or bowel dysfunction comprises urinary and/or fecal retention. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for treating a patient with urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one means for stimulating tissue—
said means comprising a controller and at least two electrodes;implanting the at least one stimulating means adjacent to at least one parasympathetic target that innervates at least one urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure; providing operating power to the at least one stimulating means; providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulating means; generating inhibitory stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and delivering the inhibitory stimulation pulses to nerves and tissue adjacent to the at least one stimulating means to inhibit parasympathetic input to said urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure in order to treat urgency, frequency, urinary incontinence, and/or fecal incontinence; wherein the stimulating means has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one parasympathetic target.
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26. A method for treating a patient with urinary and/or bowel dysfunction comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one means for stimulating tissue—
said means comprising a controller and at least two electrodes;implanting the at least one stimulating means adjacent to at least one sympathetic target that innervates at least one urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure; providing operating power to the at least one stimulating means; providing stimulation parameters to the at least one stimulating means; generating inhibitory stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters; and delivering the stimulation pulses to nerves and tissue adjacent to the at least one stimulating means to inhibit parasympathetic input to said urinary, gastrointestinal, and/or other pelvic structure in order to treat the urinary and/or bowel dysfunction; wherein the stimulating means has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one sympathetic target.
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27. A method of treating a patient with a bowel dysfunction, said method comprising:
applying one or more inhibitory stimulation pulses to a parasympathetic nerve within said patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters to treat said bowel dysfunction. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of treating a patient with at least one bowel dysfunction, said method comprising:
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applying one or more inhibitory stimulation pulses and one or more excitatory stimulation pulses to a parasympathetic nerve within said patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; wherein said inhibitory stimulation pulses are configured to treat fecal incontinence and said excitatory stimulation pulses arm configured to treat fecal retention. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A method of treating a patient with a bowel dysfunction, said method comprising:
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applying one or more inhibitory stimulation pulses to a sympathetic nerve within said patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; wherein said bowel dysfunction comprises fecal retention. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for treating a patient with a bowel dysfunction, said system comprising:
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means for applying one or more inhibitory stimulation pulses to a parasympathetic nerve within said patient; and means for generating said stimulation pulses in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.
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39. A system for treating a patient with at least one bowel dysfunction, said system comprising:
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means for applying one or more inhibitory stimulation pulses to a parasympathetic nerve within said patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; and means for applying one or more excitatory stimulation pulses to a parasympathetic nerve within said patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; wherein said inhibitory stimulation pulses are configured to treat fecal incontinence and said excitatory stimulation pulses are configured to treat fecal retention.
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40. A system for treating a patient with a bowel dysfunction, said system comprising:
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means for applying one or more inhibitory stimulation pulses to a sympathetic nerve within said patient; and means for generating said stimulation pulses in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; wherein said bowel dysfunction comprises fecal retention.
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Specification