Selective stimulation systems and signal parameters for medical conditions
AssigneeTc1 LLC
InventorsEyad Kishawi, Mir A. Imran, Brian J. Mossop, Jeffery M. Kramer, Richard W. O'Connor
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Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are provided for targeted treatment of a variety of conditions, particularly conditions that are associated with or influenced by the nervous system, such as pain. Targeted treatment of such conditions is provided with minimal deleterious side effects, such as undesired motor responses or undesired stimulation of unaffected body regions. This is achieved by directly neuromodulating a target anatomy associated with the condition while minimizing or excluding undesired neuromodulation of other anatomies.
Claims20
A method of treating pain of a patient via electrical stimulation of a portion of a dorsal root ganglion of the patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a lead having at least one electrode so that at least one of the at least one electrode resides in proximity to the portion of a dorsal root ganglion using an implant tool, wherein the implant tool has a curved distal end to introduce the lead from within an epidural space of the patient and through a foramen to access the dorsal root ganglion;
- and
- operating a programmer device to control provision of a plurality of stimulating signals by a pulse generator to the at least one electrode to stimulate the dorsal root ganglion to determine optimal therapy parameters to treat the pain of the patient, wherein (1) the operating the programmer device comprises performing mapping operations to identify sets of parameters that activate distinct sub-dermatome regions associated with the dorsal root ganglion, (2) the programmer device provides a current step size that is selectable from a plurality of values, and (3) the plurality of values includes at least one current step size that is sufficiently small to permit identification of sub-dermatomal stimulation.
A system for treating pain of a patient via electrical stimulation of a portion of a dorsal root ganglion of the patient, the system comprising:
- a lead comprising at least one electrode disposed on a distal end;
- and
- a pulse generator configured to provide a plurality of stimulating signals to the at least one electrode to stimulate the dorsal root ganglion;
- and
- a programmer device operable to determine optimal therapy parameters to treat the pain of the patient, wherein the programmer device is configured to:
- perform mapping operations to identify sets of parameters that activate distinct sub-dermatome regions associated with the dorsal root ganglion,
- provide a current step size that is selectable from a plurality of values, wherein the plurality of values includes at least one current step size that is sufficiently small to permit identification of sub-dermatomal stimulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.