US20040116977A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for electrical stimulation of the intervertebral disc
Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc
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Filing: 2002-12-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A method for electrically stimulating an area in a spinal disc is presented. The method comprises implanting a lead with one or more electrodes in a placement site in or adjacent to one or more discs at any spinal level from cervical through lumbar, connecting the lead to a signal generator, and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the disc. Additionally, a system for relieving pain associated with a spinal disc is presented that comprises a lead with one or more electrodes, an introducer for introducing the lead to a placement site in or adjacent to the disc, a removable stylet for guiding the lead to the placement site in the disc, and a generator connected to the lead for generating electrical pulses to the lead for stimulating the disc.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip Finch
- 👤 Scott Drees
- 👤 John Erickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36014; A61N1/36021; A61N1/36017; A61N1/3605; A61N1/3606; A61N1/36071; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0551; A61N1/0558
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
1 . An apparatus for relieving pain associated with a spinal disc, comprising: a lead insertable at a placement site for stimulating the spinal disc, the lead containing one or more electrodes; and a generator in communication with the lead, for sending electrical pulses to the electrodes to stimulate an area of the disc.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
1 . An apparatus for relieving pain associated with a spinal disc, comprising: a lead insertable at a placement site for stimulating the spinal disc, the lead containing one or more electrodes; and a generator in communication with the lead, for sending electrical pulses to the electrodes to stimulate an area of the disc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
2 . The apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the placement site is in the annulus of the disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the placement site is in the nucleus of the disc.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the placement site is adjacent to the disc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the placement site is near the interface between the disc and the annulus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
6 . The apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising an anchoring stylet that anchors the lead in the placement site.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
7 . The apparatus in claim 1 further comprising: an anchoring device; and a releasing device to implement the elastic memory so that the anchoring device secures the lead to the placement site.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the anchoring device comprises at least one of the following: a material that is endowed with elastic memory, an inflatable balloon, or surgical fixation device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lead is a steerable lead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an introducer to introduce the lead to the placement site.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
11 . A method for electrically stimulating an area in a spinal disc comprising: implanting a lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc, the lead containing one or more electrodes; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the disc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
11 . A method for electrically stimulating an area in a spinal disc comprising: implanting a lead at a placement site for stimulating a spinal disc, the lead containing one or more electrodes; connecting the lead to a signal generator; and generating electrical stimulation pulses using the generator to stimulate targeted portions of the disc.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising: inserting an introducer to introduce the lead to the placement site; and steering the lead to the placement site.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
13 . The method of claim 11 further comprising anchoring the lead at the placement site using a stylet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the placement site is in the annulus of the disc.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the placement site is the nucleus of the disc.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the placement site is between the nucleus and the annulus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the placement site is adjacent to the disc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
18 . The method of claim 11 wherein the lead is a trial lead.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
19 . The method of claim 11 further comprising: determining whether placement site of the trial lead reduces disc pain; adjusting at least one of the following to optimize pain reduction in the disc: placement site, pulse characteristics, or electrode usage; and replacing the trial lead with a permanent lead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
20 . A system for relieving pain associated with a spinal disc, comprising: a lead with one or more electrodes for stimulating a disc; an introducer for introducing the lead to a placement site to stimulate the disc; a removable stylet for guiding the lead to the placement site in the disc; and a generator connected to the lead for generating electrical pulses to the lead for stimulating the disc.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
20 . A system for relieving pain associated with a spinal disc, comprising: a lead with one or more electrodes for stimulating a disc; an introducer for introducing the lead to a placement site to stimulate the disc; a removable stylet for guiding the lead to the placement site in the disc; and a generator connected to the lead for generating electrical pulses to the lead for stimulating the disc.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
21 . The system in claim 20 , wherein the placement site is the annulus of the disc.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
22 . The system in claim 20 , wherein the placement site is the nucleus of the disc.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
23 . The system in claim 20 , wherein the placement site is between the nucleus and the annulus of the disc.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
24 . The system in claim 20 , wherein the placement site is adjacent to the disc.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
25 . The system in claim 20 further comprising a locking device for securing the lead to the placement site.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
26 . The system in claim 20 further comprising: a locking device made of material that is endowed with elastic memory; and a releasing device to implement the elastic memory so that the locking device secures the lead to the placement site.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
27 . A system for introducing a lead in a placement site in a disc comprising: an introducer where the introducer has a curved tip; a lead insertable through the introducer; a connector located on the lead for connecting the lead to a generator; and a lead anchor for anchoring the lead in the placement site.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
27 . A system for introducing a lead in a placement site in a disc comprising: an introducer where the introducer has a curved tip; a lead insertable through the introducer; a connector located on the lead for connecting the lead to a generator; and a lead anchor for anchoring the lead in the placement site.
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