Nerve stimulation for treating spasticity, tremor, muscle weakness, and other motor disorders

• US 7,324,853 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2004
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Dabby, Ron, Cohen, Ehud, Ayal, Shai
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes; Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A
• Application Number:
  US10/981,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20050102007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

A method for treating spasticity of a subject is provided, including driving a current into a nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers, and configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of action potentials in one or more of the sensory fibers, so as to treat the spasticity. In a preferred embodiment, the sensory fibers include one or more Ia sensory fibers, and configuring the current includes configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of the action potentials in at least one of the Ia sensory fibers.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

selecting a subject who suffers from spasticity;

driving a first current into a first nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers;

treating the spasticity by configuring the first current so as to inhibit propagation of first action potentials in one or more of the first sensory fibers;

driving a second current into a second nerve of the subject that innervates a second muscle of the subject that is antagonistic to a first muscle innervated by at least one of the first sensory fibers, the second nerve including one or more second sensory fibers; and

configuring the second current so as to inhibit propagation of second action potentials in at least one of the second sensory fibers.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first nerve and the second nerve are the same nerve, and the first and second sensory fibers are distinct, and wherein driving the second current comprises driving the second current into the first nerve.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second nerves comprise two distinct nerves of the subject.

4. A method, comprising:

selecting a subject who suffers from spasticity;

driving a first current into a first nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers;

treating the spasticity by configuring the first current so as to inhibit propagation of first action potentials in one or more of the first sensory fibers;

driving a second current into a second nerve of the subject that innervates a second muscle of the subject that is synergistic to a first muscle innervated by at least one of the first sensory fibers, the second nerve including one or more second sensory fibers; and

configuring the second current so as to inhibit propagation of second action potentials in at least one of the second sensory fibers.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the first nerve and the second nerve are the same nerve, and the first and second sensory fibers are distinct, and driving the second current comprises driving the second current into the first nerve.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the first and second nerves comprise two distinct nerves of the subject.

7. A method, comprising:

selecting a subject who suffers from spasticity;

driving a first current into a first nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers;

treating the spasticity by configuring the first current so as to inhibit propagation of first action potentials in one or more of the first sensory fibers;

driving a second current into a second nerve of the subject that includes one or more gamma motor fibers innervating a muscle spindle of the subject; and

configuring the second current so as to inhibit propagation of second action potentials in at least one of the gamma motor fibers.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first nerve and the second nerve are the same nerve, and the first and second sensory fibers are distinct, and driving the second current comprises driving the second current into the first nerve.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the first and second nerves comprise two distinct nerves of the subject.