Systems and methods for deploying patient therapy devices
First Claim
1. A method of identifying patient responders to a paresthesia-free spinal cord stimulation therapy, the method comprising:
- implanting in a patient a pair of spinal cord signal delivery devices, each having at least eight electrical contacts;
connecting an external signal generator to the spinal cord signal delivery devices;
initially simultaneously activating at least twelve of the electrical contacts with a therapy signal from the external signal generator without causing paresthesia in the patient while delivering the therapy;
implanting a signal generator in the patient if the patient responds favorably to the simultaneous activation of the at least twelve electrical contacts; and
after implanting the signal generator, applying the therapy signal to the patient via fewer than the at least twelve electrical contacts.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for identifying responders to paresthesia-free stimulation therapy, and associated systems are disclosed. A representative method comprises implanting a pair of spinal cord signal delivery devices and connecting an external signal generator thereto. A plurality of the electrical contacts are simultaneously activated with a high frequency signal without causing paresthesia in the patient, wherein the electrical contacts would cause paresthesia in the patient if activated with a low frequency signal. The high frequency signal is in a range of from about 3 kHz to about 20 kHz and an amplitude of less than 4 mA. If the patient responds favorably, a signal generator is implanted in the patient. A second high frequency signal is then applied to fewer than the plurality of electrical contacts.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of identifying patient responders to a paresthesia-free spinal cord stimulation therapy, the method comprising:
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implanting in a patient a pair of spinal cord signal delivery devices, each having at least eight electrical contacts; connecting an external signal generator to the spinal cord signal delivery devices; initially simultaneously activating at least twelve of the electrical contacts with a therapy signal from the external signal generator without causing paresthesia in the patient while delivering the therapy; implanting a signal generator in the patient if the patient responds favorably to the simultaneous activation of the at least twelve electrical contacts; and after implanting the signal generator, applying the therapy signal to the patient via fewer than the at least twelve electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for deploying a patient therapy system, comprising:
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implanting in a patient at least one spinal cord signal delivery device having at least 8 electrical contacts; connecting an external signal generator to the at least one spinal cord signal delivery device; determining whether the patient responds favorably to a paresthesia-free therapy signal from the external signal generator by initially simultaneously applying the signal to at least 75% of any of the electrical contacts; implanting a signal generator into the patient when the patient responds favorably; and after implanting the signal generator, applying the paresthesia-free therapy signal to a plurality of the electrical contacts fewer than the at least 75% of the electrical contacts via the implanted signal generator. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification