Methods of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue

• US 7,447,546 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TC1 LLC (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Spinal Modulation, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated), Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Kim, Daniel H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu; Eugene T
• Application Number:
  US11/221,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 607/46, 607/62, 607115-118, 600/372, 600/373, 600/377, 600/378
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/06 Body-piercing guide needles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0568 with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• 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 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods of neurostimulating targeted neural tissues. Also described are stimulation systems and components for selective stimulation and/or neuromodulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia through implantation of an electrode on, in or around a dorsal root ganglia. Some other embodiments of the present invention provide methods for selective neurostimulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia as well as techniques for applying neurostimulation to the spinal cord. Still other embodiments of the present invention provide stimulation systems and components for selective stimulation and/or neuromodulation of one or more dorsal root ganglia through implantation of an electrode on, in or around a dorsal root ganglia in combination with a pharmacological agent.

Claims

1. A method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue, comprising:

implanting an electrode in a position adapted to neurostimulate only targeted neural tissue; and

providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode, wherein implanting an electrode in a position adapted to neurostimulate only targeted neural tissue comprises implanting the electrode into a nerve ganglion,

wherein implanting the electrode into the nerve ganglion comprises implanting the electrode into a dorsal root ganglion.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein implanting comprises passing the electrode through a delivery device inserted into a patient having the dorsal root ganglion and configured to guide the electrode toward the dorsal root ganglion.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising advancing the delivery device toward the dorsal root ganglion using a vertebral foramen as a landmark for guidance.

4. A method as in claim 2, further comprising advancing the delivery device toward the dorsal root ganglion with a lateral approach.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the electrode is disposed on a lead and further comprising anchoring the lead to reduce likelihood that the electrode will be pulled from the dorsal root ganglion.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein anchoring the lead comprises anchoring the lead to a bony structure.

7. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein after implanting the electrode into the dorsal root ganglion the electrode is on the dorsal root ganglion epinurium.

8. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein after implanting the electrode into the dorsal root ganglion the electrode is in the dorsal root ganglion epinurium.

9. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode comprises activating the signal generator using a preset program.

10. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode comprises activating the signal generator using a dynamic program selected based on an input.

11. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue in the milliwatt range.

12. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue in the millijoule range.

13. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue in the microjoule range.

14. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein providing a controlled stimulation signal from a signal generator coupled to the electrode provides a level of stimulation to the targeted neural tissue without raising the temperature of the targeted neural tissue more than 1 degree Celsius.

15. The method of neurostimulating targeted neural tissue according to claim 1 wherein the implanting the electrode step is performed without penetrating completely through the dorsal root ganglion.