Amelioration of chronic pain by endolymphatic stimulation
First Claim
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1. A method for treating pain, comprising:
- implanting a pulse generator having a lead attached thereto;
implanting the lead into a patient'"'"'s lymphatic system by introducing the lead intravenously into a thoracic duct and thence to a selected location within a lymphatic vessel;
disposing an electrode incorporated into the lead at a selected location within the lymphatic vessel so as to be near selected nervous tissue responsible for a patient'"'"'s chronic pain; and
,delivering electrical stimulation from the pulse generator to the electrode incorporated into the lead in a manner that reduces the patient'"'"'s pain.
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Abstract
A device and method are disclosed for treating chronic pain by delivering electrical stimulation to nervous tissue or smooth muscle fibers by means of electrodes disposed in the body'"'"'s lymphatic system. An implanted pulse generator is connected to an electrode by a lead that may be intravenously introduced into the lymphatic system. The stimulation may be patient-controlled or be delivered in accordance with a programmed schedule.
155 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for treating pain, comprising:
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implanting a pulse generator having a lead attached thereto; implanting the lead into a patient'"'"'s lymphatic system by introducing the lead intravenously into a thoracic duct and thence to a selected location within a lymphatic vessel; disposing an electrode incorporated into the lead at a selected location within the lymphatic vessel so as to be near selected nervous tissue responsible for a patient'"'"'s chronic pain; and
,delivering electrical stimulation from the pulse generator to the electrode incorporated into the lead in a manner that reduces the patient'"'"'s pain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for treating pain due to edema, comprising:
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implanting a pulse generator having a lead attached thereto; implanting the lead into a patient'"'"'s lymphatic system by introducing the lead intravenously into a thoracic duct and thence to a selected location within a lymphatic vessel; disposing an electrode incorporated into the lead at a selected location within the lymphatic vessel so as to be near selected areas of edema; and
,delivering electrical stimulation from the pulse generator to the electrode incorporated into the lead to elicit smooth muscle fiber activation and lymphatic vessel contraction in a manner that reduces the edema.
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Specification