Cavernous nerve stimulation via unidirectional propagation of action potentials
First Claim
1. Method of stimulating a cavernous nerve, the method comprising:
- providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes;
disposing the electrodes to independently apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve; and
applying the stimulation to generate unidirectionally propagating action potentials in efferent fibers in one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve,thereby treating erectile dysfunction while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for cavernous nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes. In one aspect, a method includes providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes, disposing the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a cavernous nerve; and applying the stimulation to the cavernous nerve, thereby treating erectile dysfunction while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation.
377 Citations
19 Claims
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1. Method of stimulating a cavernous nerve, the method comprising:
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providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes; disposing the electrodes to independently apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve; and applying the stimulation to generate unidirectionally propagating action potentials in efferent fibers in one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve, thereby treating erectile dysfunction while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Method of stimulating a cavernous nerve, the method comprising:
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providing at least one implantable stimulator that includes at least two electrodes; implanting the stimulator so that the electrodes are disposed to stimulate one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve independently; and applying stimulation to efferent fibers of the one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve thereby treating erectile dysfunction while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. Method of stimulating a cavernous nerve, the method comprising:
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providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least a first cathode and a first anode; implanting the stimulator so that the electrodes are disposed to stimulate one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve independently; and applying the stimulation to one of the left cavernous nerve and the right cavernous nerve to generate orthodromic action potentials traveling in one direction along the nerve, including applying a depolarizing cathodic current to a nerve via the first cathode, which cathodic current is sufficient to initiate bidirectional action potentials in large diameter nerve fibers and small diameter nerve fibers, applying a hyperpolarizing anodic current to the nerve via the first anode at a side of the cathode where arrest of the action potentials is desired, and tapering the anodic current, thereby limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification