Electrode Lead and Method for Pain Block using Ionic Direct Current

Abstract

Electrical neuromodulation uses electric current to interfere with nociceptive (pain-related) signals. Delivery of novel ionic direct current (iDC) to peripheral nerves can block nociceptive signal conduction without interfering with non-painful tactile or proprioceptive signals. A cuff lead for delivering iDC is disclosed for blocking action potential (AP) propagation in a neuron. The cuff lead delivers iDC to a nerve via a microfluidic lead filled with conductive media such as a gel. The cuff lead can take the form of a tripolar nerve cuff configured to contact a surface of a peripheral nerve. The cuff lead delivering iDC to the nerve according to the present invention has been shown to block AP propagation in a rat sciatic nerve and can be used as a treatment for blocking pathological pain.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.