Methods and systems for treating chronic pelvic pain

• US 20050228451A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Jaax, Kristen N., Whitehurst, Todd K., Woods, Carla Mann
• Granted Patent: US 7,890,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Methods of treating chronic pelvic pain include applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating chronic pelvic pain include a system control unit configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

Claims

1. A method of treating chronic pelvic pain, said method comprising:

applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters;

wherein said stimulus is configured to treat said chronic pelvic pain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulation site comprises at least one or more of an ilio-inguinal nerve, an inferior hypogastric nerve, the frankenhauser'"'"'s ganglion, an inferior hypogastric plexus, a superior hypogastric plexus, a posterior labial nerve, a perineal branch of a posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, a perineal nerve, a sympathetic ganglia, a sacral nerve root, a nerve supplying sympathetic control to a pelvic region, a pelvic plexus, a dorsal column of a spinal cord, a cauda equina, a thalamus, a motor cortex, a frontal cortex, an arterial supply to a reproductive organ, an arterial supply to a pelvic floor, a location within subcutaneous fat, a peritoneal cavity, and a location within intramuscular tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling said system control unit to said stimulation site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said stimulation site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said stimulation site and a stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said stimulation site.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one indicator related to said chronic pelvic pain and using said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said at least one indicator comprises at least one or more of an electrical activity of a brain, a neurotransmitter level, a hormone level, and a medication level.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit comprises a microstimulator.

10. A system for treating chronic pelvic pain, said system comprising:

a system control unit configured to apply at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters;

wherein said system control unit is implanted within said patient and wherein said stimulus is configured to treat said chronic pelvic pain.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said stimulation site comprises at least one or more of an ilio-inguinal nerve, an inferior hypogastric nerve, the frankenhauser'"'"'s ganglion, an inferior hypogastric plexus, a superior hypogastric plexus, a posterior labial nerve, a perineal branch of a posterior femoral cutaneous nerve, a perineal nerve, a sympathetic ganglia, a sacral nerve root, a nerve supplying sympathetic control to a pelvic region, a pelvic plexus, a dorsal column of a spinal cord, a cauda equina, a thalamus, a motor cortex, a frontal cortex, an arterial supply to a reproductive organ, an arterial supply to a pelvic floor, a location within subcutaneous fat, a peritoneal cavity, and a location within intramuscular tissue.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said system control unit is coupled directly to said stimulation site.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said stimulus comprises stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said stimulation site.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said stimulation site and one or more drugs delivered to said stimulation site.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a sensor device for sensing at least one indicator related to said chronic pelvic pain;

wherein said system control unit uses said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said at least one indicator comprises at least one or more of an electrical activity of a brain, a neurotransmitter level, a hormone level, and a medication level.

18. A system for treating chronic pelvic pain, said system comprising:

means for applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters; and

means for adjusting said stimulation parameters such that said stimulus is effective to treat said chronic pelvic pain.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said stimulation site.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said stimulus comprises stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said stimulation site.