System and method for electrical stimulation of the intervertebral disc

• US 8,086,317 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2010
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Finch, Philip M., Drees, Scott F., Erickson, John
• Primary Examiner(s): KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/917,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20110046695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 607/43, 607/46, 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• 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 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method electrically stimulates an area in a spinal disc. The method comprises: implanting at least one steerable lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc such that the lead is disposed exterior and immediately adjacent to and circumferentially along an annulus of the spinal disc, the at least one lead including a plurality of electrodes distributed along a majority of a circumference of the annulus; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the spinal disc, wherein the stimulation of the targeted portion of the spinal disc sufficiently stimulates nerve tissue within the spinal disc to prevent communication of pain signals originating in the spinal disc without damaging tissue of the spinal disc.

Claims

1. A method of treating chronic discogenic pain in a patient, the method comprising:

advancing an introducer into the patient from a site proximate to a facet joint of the patient to a site that is directly adjacent to a disc of the patient;

advancing a stimulation lead with a plurality of electrodes through the introducer device;

steering the stimulation lead, using a stiffening stylet, while advancing the stimulation lead out of the introducer device to follow a path within the patient that generally follows a path directly about or within the disc of the patient;

coupling the stimulation lead to an implantable pulse generator;

testing a plurality of stimulation parameters to identify a stimulation pattern for the patient optimal to treat chronic discogenic pain of the patient; and

operating the implantable pulse generator, according to the optimal stimulation pattern, over at least multiple days to generate electrical pulses for delivery to tissue of the patient to treat said chronic discogenic pain of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

deploying an anchoring mechanism through the stimulation lead to hold the stimulation lead at a target location within the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the anchoring mechanism is deployed within the disc of the patient.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a shape memory wire that is adapted to coil within the disc of the patient.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a balloon structure.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising inflating the balloon structure to secure the stimulation lead.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein at least some of the electrodes of the stimulation lead are disposed outside the confines of the disc to recruit fibers of an annulus fibrosis that are recruited by the electrical pulses.