Urgency therapy with neuromodulation and C-afferent nerve desensitization

摘要

Systems (10), devices (16), and methods may be used for treating bladder dysfunction, such as urgency and pelvic pain. In one example, a method includes administering a pharmacological agent to a patient (14) in a dosage sufficient to desensitize a C-afferent nerve fiber of the patient. Additionally, the method includes delivering stimulation to activate a nerve fiber proximate to the C-afferent nerve fiber via an electrode (19A, 19B, 21A, 21B, 29A-29D) electrically coupled to an implantable medical device (16). In some examples, the nerve fiber may be different than the C-afferent nerve fiber, the stimulation of the nerve fiber may elicit an inhibitory physiological response related to voiding in the patient, and/or the stimulation substantially may not activate the C-afferent nerve fiber after desensitization of the nerve fiber via the administration of the pharmacological agent.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
administering a pharmacological agent to a patient in a dosage sufficient to desensitize a C-afferent nerve fiber of the patient; and delivering electrical stimulation to activate a nerve fiber proximate to the C-afferent nerve fiber via an electrode electrically coupled to an implantable medical device, wherein the nerve fiber is different than the C-afferent nerve fiber, wherein the stimulation of the nerve fiber elicits an inhibitory physiological response related to voiding in the patient, and wherein the stimulation substantially does not activate the C-afferent nerve fiber after desensitization of the nerve fiber via the administration of the pharmacological agent.