Regional therapies for treatment of pain
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsKenneth T. Heruth, Mark S. Lent, Ruchika Singhal, Michael J. Schendel
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Abstract
Enhanced therapies for treating pain are described. The therapies include subcutaneous stimulation of tissue in proximity to a source of pain at low frequencies (less than about 20 Hz) and high frequencies (greater than about 50 Hz). The therapies further include administering a pain treating agent at a predetermined time relative to application of the high or low frequency stimulation. Delivery of the pain treating agent via an implantable infusion system is described. Coordination of output of an infusion device and a pulse generator to provide coordinated therapy is also discussed.
Claims43
A method for treating pain in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
- applying a first electrical signal having a frequency less than about 20 Hz to a first region of subcutaneous tissue in proximity to a source of pain of the subject to treat the pain;
- applying a second electrical signal having a frequency greater than about 50 Hz to a second region of subcutaneous tissue in proximity to the source of pain of the subject to treat the pain, wherein the first and second regions are the same or different;
- and
- beginning an administration of a first pain treating agent to the subject at a predetermined time that is a predetermined time interval before or after an onset of an application of the first or second electrical signal.
A method for treating pain and reducing tolerance associated with the treatment, the method comprising:
- applying a first electrical signal having a frequency less than about 20 Hz to a first region of subcutaneous tissue in proximity to the source of pain of the subject to treat the pain;
- applying a second electrical signal having a frequency greater than about 50 Hz to a second region of subcutaneous tissue in proximity to the source of pain of the subject to treat the pain, wherein the first and second regions are the same or different;
- and
- administering a first pain treating agent to the subject,
- wherein the application of the first electrical signal, the second electrical signal, and the first pain treating agent occur in a cyclic manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.