METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TURNING ON AND OFF DRG STIMULATION AND ADJUSTING DRG STIMULATION PARAMETERS

摘要

Methods and systems described herein can be used to automatically turn on and off stimulation of a target dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and/or adjust stimulation parameters. At least one of an input signal (indicative of an electrical field resulting from an electrical signal propagated by adjacent distal sensory nerve fibers toward the target DRG), an output signal (indicative of an electrical field resulting from an electrical signal propagated by adjacent proximal sensory nerve fibers away from the target DRG) or a DRG signal (indicative of an electrical field produced by cell bodies of primary sensory neurons within the target DRG and resulting from an electrical signal propagated by sensory nerve fibers within the target DRG) is/are obtained and analyzed. Delivery of electrical stimulation is turned on and off and/or at least one of pulse amplitude, pulse width and/or pulse repetition rate is/are adjusted based on results of the analysis.

主权项

1. A method for use by an implanted system including an implantable neurostimulator (INS) to which is connected one or more leads each having one or more electrodes,
the method for efficiently treating targeted pain in a patient by selectively delivering electrical stimulation to a target dorsal root ganglion (DRG), wherein the target DRG is connected between adjacent distal sensory nerve fibers and adjacent proximal sensory nerve fibers,
the adjacent distal sensory nerve fibers propagating an electrical signal from a periphery of the patient toward the target DRG, andthe adjacent proximal sensory nerve fibers propagating an electrical signal away from the target DRG toward a central nervous system of the patient, the method comprising: (a) using at least one of the one or more electrodes of the one or more leads to obtain at least one of
(a.1) an input signal indicative of an electrical field resulting from an electrical signal propagated by the adjacent distal sensory nerve fibers toward the target DRG;(a.2) an output signal indicative of an electrical field resulting from an electrical signal propagated by the adjacent proximal sensory nerve fibers away from the target DRG; or(a.3) a DRG signal indicative of an electrical field produced by cell bodies of primary sensory neurons within the target DRG and resulting from an electrical signal propagated by sensory nerve fibers within the target DRG; (b) analyzing at least one of the one or more signals obtained at step (a); and (c) selectively turning on and off delivery of the electrical stimulation to the target DRG based on results of the analyzing at step (b).