Non-invasive electrical and magnetic nerve stimulators used to treat overactive bladder and urinary incontinence
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a disorder of a lower urinary tract in a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of the patient;
generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and
transmitting the one or more electrical impulses from the device to selected nerve fibers in the patient;
wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause the selected nerve fibers to generate action potentials that at least partially relieve a symptom selected from a group of symptoms comprising urgent urination, frequent urination, urge incontinence, urgent urination with incontinence, frequent urination with incontinence, nocturia, ischuria, bladder discomfort, and bladder pain, andwherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted to the patient in a treatment session having a period from about 3 minutes to about three hours, followed by a period from about three hours to about one week wherein the one or more electrical impulses is not transmitted to the patient, andwherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted when the bladder of the patient has a bladder filling-volume that is within a predetermined range of volumes,wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near the selected nerve fibers,wherein the transmitting is carried out by generating a magnetic field via the device, wherein the magnetic field is exterior to the patient, wherein the magnetic field is sufficient to induce the one or more electrical impulses at or near the selected nerve fibers within the patient.
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Abstract
Transcutaneous electrical and magnetic nerve stimulation devices and methods generate energy that is delivered noninvasively to selected nerve fibers within the patient to treat lower urinary tract disorders. The disorders comprise overactive bladder, urge incontinence, stress, incontinence, urge frequency, non-obstructive urinary retention and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. In preferred embodiments, a posterior tibial nerve of a patient is stimulated non-invasively to treat bladder disorders.
39 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of treating a disorder of a lower urinary tract in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of the patient; generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and transmitting the one or more electrical impulses from the device to selected nerve fibers in the patient; wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause the selected nerve fibers to generate action potentials that at least partially relieve a symptom selected from a group of symptoms comprising urgent urination, frequent urination, urge incontinence, urgent urination with incontinence, frequent urination with incontinence, nocturia, ischuria, bladder discomfort, and bladder pain, and wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted to the patient in a treatment session having a period from about 3 minutes to about three hours, followed by a period from about three hours to about one week wherein the one or more electrical impulses is not transmitted to the patient, and wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted when the bladder of the patient has a bladder filling-volume that is within a predetermined range of volumes, wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near the selected nerve fibers, wherein the transmitting is carried out by generating a magnetic field via the device, wherein the magnetic field is exterior to the patient, wherein the magnetic field is sufficient to induce the one or more electrical impulses at or near the selected nerve fibers within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of treating a disorder of a lower urinary tract in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of the patient; generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and transmitting the one or more electrical impulses from the device to selected nerve fibers in the patient; wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause the selected nerve fibers to generate action potentials that at least partially relieve a symptom selected from a group of symptoms comprising urgent urination, frequent urination, urge incontinence, urgent urination with incontinence, frequent urination with incontinence, nocturia, ischuria, bladder discomfort, and bladder pain, and wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted to the patient in a treatment session having a period from about 3 minutes to about three hours, followed by a period from about three hours to about one week wherein the one or more electrical impulses is not transmitted to the patient, and wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted when the bladder of the patient has a bladder filling-volume that is within a predetermined range of volumes, wherein one or more protocol parameters for a treatment session is selected individually for the patient, wherein the one or more protocol parameters comprising at least one of;
a burst frequency, a number of pulses per burst, a duration of a pulse within a burst, a power of electrical impulses, a duration of an impulse-transmission session, a duration of a period during which impulses are not transmitted, a phase or phases of bladder-filling of a patient when electrical impulses are transmitted, and a range of bladder filling-volumes when electrical impulses are transmitted,wherein the one or more protocol parameters is selected via; performing measurements of bladder and urethra function of the patient; using said measurements to estimate values of numerical parameters in a set of differential equations that represents modules of the bladder of the patient as coupled non-linear oscillators; simulating a plurality of potential treatments by solving said differential equations with different protocol parameters; and selecting among said simulations the one having protocol parameters that minimize simulated bladder contractions.
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19. A method of treating a disorder of a lower urinary tract in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of the patient; generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and transmitting the one or more electrical impulses from the device to selected nerve fibers in the patient, wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to cause the selected nerve fibers to generate action potentials that at least partially relieve a symptom selected from a group of symptoms comprising urgent urination, frequent urination, urge incontinence, urgent urination with incontinence, frequent urination with incontinence, nocturia, ischuria, bladder discomfort, and bladder pain, and wherein the one or more electrical impulses is transmitted to the patient in a treatment session having a period from about 3 minutes to about three hours, followed by a period from about three hours to about one week wherein the one or more electrical impulses is not transmitted to the patient, and wherein one or more protocol parameters for a treatment session is selected individually for the patient, wherein the one or more protocol parameters comprising at least one of;
a burst frequency, a number of pulses per burst, a duration of a pulse within a burst, a power of electrical impulses, a duration of an impulse-transmission session, a duration of a period during which impulses are not transmitted, a phase or phases of bladder-filling of a patient when electrical impulses are transmitted, and a range of bladder filling-volumes when electrical impulses are transmitted, and wherein the one or more protocol parameters is selected via;performing measurements of bladder and urethra function of the patient; using said measurements to estimate values of numerical parameters in a set of differential equations that represents modules of the bladder of the patient as coupled non-linear oscillators; simulating a plurality of potential treatments by solving said differential equations with different protocol parameters; and selecting among said simulations the one having protocol parameters that minimize simulated bladder contractions. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification