Method for applying pulsed radio frequency energy to the spinal canal

• US 9,950,185 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omar Omar-Pasha
• Original Assignee: Omar Omar-Pasha, OMT GmbH
• Inventors: Omar-Pasha, Omar, Stumpp, Uwe, Matsch, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US14/865,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20160008618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0044 Spinal cord
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/06 for high-frequency therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals

Abstract

A flexible catheter includes two electrical contacts in a distal region of the catheter and a distal aperture of a hose line. The electrical contacts are connected to a high frequency pulse generator for applying pulsed radio frequency energy for nerve stimulation. A temperature sensor is located in the distal region of the catheter. The flexible catheter is inserted into a region in the spinal canal and the pulsed radio frequency generator is operated, thereby applying pulsed radio frequency energy to a localized region to be treated. The temperature at the distal region of the catheter can also be monitored, and the pulsed radio frequency energy is applied in dependence on the monitored temperature. With the catheter, pain and other medical conditions being related to and influenced by a nervous system are treated.

Claims

1. A method for applying pulsed radio frequency energy to a region in the spinal canal, comprising the steps of:

inserting a flexible epidural catheter into a spinal space, said flexible epidural catheter having at least one first electrical contact in a distal region of the catheter, said flexible epidural catheter also including a hose line that defines an aperture in the distal region of said hose line for injecting pain killing drugs through the aperture in the distal region of said hose line from a syringe or drug pump;

operating a pulsed radio frequency generator, the pulsed radio frequency generator being coupled to said first electrical contact;

thereby applying pulsed radio frequency energy via said first electrical contact to a localized region to be treated;

detecting a temperature in the spinal space by a temperature sensor at the distal region of the catheter;

automatically changing at least one parameter of the pulsed radio frequency energy supplied to the localized region when a specific temperature is detected,

automatically switching off or temporarily suppressing of the pulsed radio frequency energy to the localized region when an upper temperature limit of 42°

C. is reached to thereby avoid thermal damage to tissue, and whereby in said localized region at least one of a nerve, nerve root, a nerve ganglion and a part of the spinal cord is treated.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of probing a position of the catheter by applying a test stimulation via said electrical contact to detect a sensual response to the test stimulation signal.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the test stimulation signal has a voltage in the range of 0 to 12 V, a frequency in the range of 50 to 150 Hz, and a pulse width in the range of 150 to 400 microseconds.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of repeatedly adjusting the catheter to different positions.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the temperature comprises using a temperature sensor that is thermally connected to the first electrical contact.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of inserting the flexible epidural catheter into the spinal canal comprises disposing an aseptic guide wire within the hose line, pushing the catheter to the desired position in the spinal canal, and retreating the guide wire.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the applied pulsed radio frequency energy has a voltage in the range of 20 to 30 V, a frequency of 500 kHz and a pulse width of 20 ms.