Implantable neuromodulation system and method
First Claim
1. A method of treating urinary incontinence in a patient through neuromodulation of body tissue of the patient at a desired internal stimulation site, comprising:
- implanting a receiver subcutaneously in the patient, the receiver comprising passive receiver circuitry, a dielectric, bio-compatible shell encapsulating the receiver circuit, a first elongated resiliently-insulated flexible helical electrically conductive wire lead extending from the shell, a first electrode disposed at a distal end of the first lead and electrically connected to the receiver circuitry through the first lead to function as an anode, a second elongated resiliently-insulated flexible helical electrically conductive wire lead extending from the shell, and a second electrode disposed at a distal end of the second lead and electrically connected to the receiver circuitry through the second lead to function as a cathode;
during the implanting step, positioning the first and second electrodes in proximity to a tibial nerve of the patient, approximately five centimeters cephalic to the medial tibial malleolus, by elongation of at least one of the first and second leads, and supplying a first pulsed alternating magnetic field to the receiver from a portable transmitter outside of the patient to test for accurate positioning of the first and second electrodes as indicated by a curl or curve of a foot of the patient; and
supplying a second pulsed alternating magnetic field to the receiver from the portable transmitter outside of the patient,wherein the second pulsed alternating magnetic field comprises alternating magnetic field pulses have pulse frequency, pulse amplitude and pulse width characteristics corresponding to a predetermined treatment protocol for urinary incontinence; and
wherein the first and second alternating magnetic field pulses inductively couple to the passive receiver circuitry to generate treatment current pulses therein in accordance with the treatment protocol, the treatment current pulses being supplied to the electrode through the lead for stimulating the tibial nerve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable neuromodulation system and method of treating a patient through neuromodulation of a patient'"'"'s body tissue. The neuromodulation system includes a portable transmitter and an implantable receiver. The implantable receiver includes one or more electrodes disposed on the distal end of one or more elongated, flexible insulated leads. The transmitter is programmable with a treatment protocol to cause the transmitter to generate a pulsed, alternating magnetic field in accordance with the treatment protocol. When the transmitter is placed in close proximity to the receiver, the alternating magnetic field pulses generated by the transmitter cause the receiver to operably generate stimulating pulses delivered via the electrode(s) to the targeted tissue of the patient.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of treating urinary incontinence in a patient through neuromodulation of body tissue of the patient at a desired internal stimulation site, comprising:
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implanting a receiver subcutaneously in the patient, the receiver comprising passive receiver circuitry, a dielectric, bio-compatible shell encapsulating the receiver circuit, a first elongated resiliently-insulated flexible helical electrically conductive wire lead extending from the shell, a first electrode disposed at a distal end of the first lead and electrically connected to the receiver circuitry through the first lead to function as an anode, a second elongated resiliently-insulated flexible helical electrically conductive wire lead extending from the shell, and a second electrode disposed at a distal end of the second lead and electrically connected to the receiver circuitry through the second lead to function as a cathode; during the implanting step, positioning the first and second electrodes in proximity to a tibial nerve of the patient, approximately five centimeters cephalic to the medial tibial malleolus, by elongation of at least one of the first and second leads, and supplying a first pulsed alternating magnetic field to the receiver from a portable transmitter outside of the patient to test for accurate positioning of the first and second electrodes as indicated by a curl or curve of a foot of the patient; and supplying a second pulsed alternating magnetic field to the receiver from the portable transmitter outside of the patient, wherein the second pulsed alternating magnetic field comprises alternating magnetic field pulses have pulse frequency, pulse amplitude and pulse width characteristics corresponding to a predetermined treatment protocol for urinary incontinence; and wherein the first and second alternating magnetic field pulses inductively couple to the passive receiver circuitry to generate treatment current pulses therein in accordance with the treatment protocol, the treatment current pulses being supplied to the electrode through the lead for stimulating the tibial nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of treating a patient for urinary incontinence by neuromodulation of a tibial nerve of the patient, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a portable transmitter, said transmitter being programmed with a treatment protocol for urinary incontinence and including circuitry to generate a pulsed alternating magnetic field in accordance with said treatment protocol; implanting a receiver subcutaneously in said patient in relative proximity to said tibial nerve, said receiver having receiver circuitry that, when exposed to said pulsed alternating magnetic field, generates current pulses, said receiver circuitry being encapsulated in a dielectric, bio-compatible shell, and further wherein said receiver includes a first electrode disposed at a distal end of a first elongated, flexible lead and electrically connected to said receiver circuitry by the first lead to function as an anode, and a second electrode disposed at a distal end of a second elongated, flexible lead and electrically connected to said receiver circuitry by the second lead to function as a cathode, the first lead comprising a flexible, helical electrically conductive wire encapsulated within a dielectric, bio-compatible resilient casing, and the second lead comprising a flexible, helical electrically conductive wire encapsulated within a dielectric, bio-compatible resilient casing; during the implanting step, positioning said first electrode and said second electrode in proximity to said tibial nerve by elongation of at least one of the first and second leads, and activating said transmitter to generate said pulsed alternating magnetic field to thereby cause said receiver to produce said current pulses for stimulating said tibial nerve, wherein accurate placement of the first and second electrodes is indicated by a curl or curve of a foot of the patient; and activating said transmitter to generate said pulsed alternating magnetic field pursuant to said predetermined treatment protocol to thereby cause said receiver to produce said current pulses for stimulating said tibial nerve in proximity to said first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification