Intravertebral direct current block of spinal transmission of neural signals
AssigneeCase Western Reserve University
InventorsNarendra Bhadra, Tina L. Vrabec, Niloy Bhadra, Kevin L. Kilgore
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Abstract
The present disclose relates to intravertebral electrical block of spinal transmission of neural signals (at least a portion of sensory signals from the peripheral nervous system and/or at least a portion of motor signals to the peripheral nervous system). At least one intravertebral electrode can be located at a level of a spinal cord of a subject. At least one waveform generator can be coupled to the at least one intravertebral electrode and configured to generate an electrical signal that is sent to the at least one intravertebral electrode for application to the level of the spinal cord of the subject.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- receiving, by at least one intravertebral electrode surgically implanted into dura at a level of a spinal cord of a subject and by at least one other intravertebral electrode surgically implanted into the dura at another level of the spinal cord of the subject, an electrical signal configured to block spinal transmission of at least a portion of peripherally induced sensory signals, wherein the electrical signal comprises a direct current waveform, and wherein the at least one intravertebral electrode and the at least one other intravertebral electrode each comprise a high-capacitance electrode material;
- and
- delivering, by the at least one intravertebral electrode and the at least one other intravertebral electrode, the electrical signal to the level of the spinal cord and the other level of the spinal cord, respectively, wherein delivery of the electrical signal to the level of the spinal cord and the other level of the spinal cord blocks spinal transmission of at least the portion of the peripherally induced sensory signals in one or more spinal tracts at the level of the spinal cord and the other level of the spinal cord.
A system comprising:
- at least one intravertebral electrode configured to be surgically implanted into dura at a level of a spinal cord of a subject, wherein the at least one intravertebral electrode comprises a high-capacitance electrode material;
- at least one other intravertebral electrode configured to be surgically implanted into dura at another level of the spinal cord of the subject, wherein the at least one other intravertebral electrode comprises the high-capacitance electrode material;
- and
- at least one waveform generator, coupled to the at least one intravertebral electrode and the at least one other intravertebral electrode, configured to generate an electrical signal comprising a direct current waveform that is sent to the at least one intravertebral electrode and the at least one other intravertebral electrode for application to the level of the spinal cord of the subject and the other level of the spinal cord of the subject, wherein the electrical signal comprising the direct current waveform is configured to block spinal transmission of at least a portion of peripherally induced sensory signals in one or more spinal tracts at the level of the spinal cord and the other level of the spinal cord.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.