Actuation and control of limbs through motor nerve stimulation

• US 7,628,750 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Cohen, Ehud
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS
• Application Number:
  US10/994,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 600 9- 15, 607/2, 607/45, 607/46, 607/48, 607/49, 607/72, 607/74, 128/897, 128/899
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Apparatus for actuating a skeletal muscle of a patient is provided. The apparatus typically includes a plurality of electrodes, which are adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a motor nerve that innervates the skeletal muscle. A control unit, is preferably adapted to drive a current between two or more of the plurality of electrodes, and to configure the current such that a first subset of axons in the nerve is excited by the current and such that a second subset of axons in the nerve is not excited by the current.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing electromagnets in a patient such that the electromagnets partially or completely surround a nerve of the patient;

driving the electromagnets to generate a varying magnetic field that induces an electric current in the nerve; and

configuring the field such that a first subset of axons in the nerve is excited by the current and such that a second subset of axons in the nerve is not excited by the current.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the nerve includes a motor nerve of the patient, and wherein placing the electromagnets comprises placing the electromagnets such that the electromagnets partially or complete surround the motor nerve.

3. A method according to claim 1, and comprising receiving an instruction from the patient, wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field responsive to the instruction.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field from an implantation site within a body of the patient.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat a urinary disorder.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the urinary disorder includes urinary incontinence, and wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat the urinary incontinence.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the urinary incontinence includes urinary stress incontinence, and wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat the urinary stress incontinence.

8. A method according to claim 5, wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat irritative symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the nerve innervates a pelvic floor muscle of the subject, and wherein placing the electromagnets comprises placing the electromagnets in a vicinity of the nerve so as to stimulate the pelvic floor muscle.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein configuring the field comprises configuring the field to treat a urinary disorder.