Fully implantable neurostimulator for autonomic nerve fiber stimulation as a therapy for urinary and bowel dysfunction

An implantable stimulator for treating a bowel dysfunction characterized by at least one of fecal urgency, fecal frequency, fecal retention and fecal incontinence, the implantable stimulator comprising:

• a housing;
• electrical circuitry disposed in the housing for generating stimulation pulses in accordance with programmed stimulation parameters, said stimulation parameters being configured to treat said bowel dysfunction;
• at least two electrodes for placement adjacent to at least one target nerve that innervates at least one of a gastrointestinal and a pelvic structure, wherein the at least two electrodes are electrically coupled to the electrical circuitry;
• and
• at least one sensor disposed on the housing and electrically coupled to the electrical circuitry for sensing a physical condition of a patient;
• wherein the implantable stimulator has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to at least one target nerve via a needle or cannula.

A method of operating an implantable stimulator to treat a bowel dysfunction characterized by at least one of fecal urgency, fecal frequency, fecal retention and fecal incontinence, the method comprising:

• implanting, by injection via a needle or through an incision, at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes adjacent to at least one target nerve comprising at least one of an inferior hypogastric, prostatic, or vesical nerve plexus;
• a thoracic root;
• a thoracic spinal nerve;
• a lumbar root;
• a lumbar spinal nerve;
• a hypogastric nerve;
• a superior hypogastric nerve plexus;
• an inferior hypogastric nerve plexus;
• a greater splanchnic nerve;
• a lesser splanchnic nerve;
• a least splanchnic nerve;
• a lumbar splanchnic nerve;
• or branches thereof;
• providing stimulation parameters to the at least one implantable stimulator;
• generating stimulation pulses in accordance with the stimulation parameters;
• and
• delivering the stimulation pulses to the at least one target nerve in order to treat at least one of fecal urgency, fecal frequency, fecal retention and fecal incontinence;
• wherein the implantable stimulator has a size and shape suitable for placement adjacent to the at least one target nerve via a needle or cannula.