Managing back pain by applying a high frequency electrical stimulus directly to the spinal cord

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9403008-B2
Application number	US-201314375785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2013
Priority date	Jan 30, 2012
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

This invention provides a new technology for management of back pain by stimulating the spinal cord in a manner that renders it refractory to transmission of deleterious or undesirable sensory input. The electrical stimulus comprises high frequency pulses in a regular or complex pattern or that are stochastically produced under microprocessor control. The stimulus is applied directly to the surface of the spinal cord from within the spinal canal, which provides important benefits over previous technology. The stimulus alleviates symptoms and signs of back pain, while minimizing the risk of side effects such as paresthesia, and potentially minimizing the effects on motor neuron transmission and proprioception.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for directly stimulating a spinal cord of a subject, the subject prone to deleterious nerve signals transmitted along the spinal cord, the method comprising:
(a) securing an electrode array at a position inside the dura of the spinal canal of the subject so that the electrodes directly engage the spinal cord; the array comprising
(i) a compliant backing configured to conform to a region of the spinal cord within the dura, the backing having an inner surface and an outer surface;
(ii) a plurality of electrodes arrayed along the inner surface of the backing; and
(iii) circuitry configured for delivering an electrical stimulus to the spinal cord through the plurality of electrodes; then

(b) applying an electrical stimulus through the electrodes in the array directly to the spinal cord so that the electrical stimulus inhibits transmission of the deleterious nerve signals along the spinal cord, wherein the electrical stimulus pulses or alternates with sufficiently high frequency to promote stochastic depolarization of sensory neurons within the spinal cord.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising securing a compliant backing upon which the electrodes are arrayed on or about the spinal cord so that the electrodes are maintained direct contact with a desired region of the spinal cord unaffected by movement of the subject.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the compliant backing is attached to a dentate ligament.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulus comprises a potential that varies of a nonuniform pattern.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulus comprises a potential that varies at stochastic intervals.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the spinal cord is stimulated by applying different stimuli through different electrodes in the array.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring transmission of synchronous action potentials through the spinal cord, and adjusting the electrical stimulus so as to further inhibit transmission through the spinal cord of synchronous action potentials.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus is applied so as to inhibit sensation of pain by the subject.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulus is applied so as to inhibit symptoms of Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, or congestive heart failure in the subject.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is at least 2,000 Hz.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is between 5,000 and 15,000 Hz.

12. A system that is constructed and arranged to stimulate a spinal cord of a subject who is prone to deleterious nerve signals transmitted along the spinal cord, the system comprising:
(a) an electrode array that includes:
(i) a compliant backing configured to conform to a region of the spinal cord within the dura, the backing having an inner surface and an outer surface; with
(ii) a plurality of electrodes arrayed along the inner surface of the backing;

(b) an array securing component configured to secure the electrode array to the spinal cord or neighboring tissues so that the electrodes remain engaged in position on the spinal cord inside the dura in the course of pulsing of the spinal cord or day-to-day movement of the subject; and
(c) a signal generator coupled to the electrode array, the generator being configured to energize the electrode array with an electrical potential that pulses or alternates with an average frequency of at least 500 Hz.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electrical potential is designed to promote stochastic depolarization of sensory neurons within the spinal cord.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electrical potential alternates at a frequency of 1,000 to 9,000 Hz.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electrical potential varies at stochastic intervals.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the array comprises ten or more electrodes configured to convey the electrical stimulus to the spinal cord.

17. The system of claim 12 , configured so that different stimuli are conveyed through different electrodes in the array.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the average frequency is at least 2,000 Hz.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the average frequency is between 500 and 50,000 Hz.

20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the average frequency is between 5,000 and 15,000 Hz.

21. A method for directly stimulating the spinal cord of a subject so as to inhibit pain transmission, the method comprising:
applying through a plurality of electrodes secured directly in contact with the pial surface of the spinal cord an electrical stimulus that pulses or alternates with an average frequency of at least 500 Hz,
whereby the electrical stimulus promotes stochastic depolarization of sensory neurons within the spinal cord and inhibits transmission of synchronous action potentials initiated within the spinal cord.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the average frequency is at least 2,000 Hz.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the average frequency is between 5,000 and 15,000 Hz.

Assignees

• Univ Iowa Res Found

Inventors

• Howard Matthew A

Classifications

• A61N1/37223

  Circuits for electromagnetic coupling · CPC title

• A61N1/36071 Primary

  Pain · CPC title

• A61N1/06

  for high-frequency therapy · CPC title

• A61N1/36114

  Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation (stimulating the heart A61N1/362) · CPC title

• A61N1/36139

  with automatic adjustment · CPC title