Systems and methods for providing percutaneous electrical stimulation
View Patent ↗Systems and methods according to the present invention relate to a novel peripheral nerve stimulation system for the treatment of pain, such as pain that exists after amputation.
1. A system comprising:
a patch member having an adhesive disposed on a first side and a patch mounting structure disposed on a second side, opposite the first side, and an electrically conductive return electrode disposed between the first side and the second side;
an electrical stimulation device comprising:
a housing having oppositely disposed top and bottom surfaces;
a device mounting structure on the bottom surface physically mated with the patch mounting structure;
electrical stimulation generation circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to deliver electrical stimulation percutaneously;
a rechargeable battery, an inductive charging circuit receiving an inductive charging signal, and a wireless communication module receiving wireless communications to select a stimulation pattern to be generated by the electrical stimulation circuitry;
an electrode electrically coupled to the electrical stimulation generation circuitry and configured to be percutaneously inserted into a patient.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the housing are separated by a device thickness, wherein the housing further comprises a perimeter edge extending from the bottom surface and a sloped interface edge connecting the top surface to the perimeter edge along a majority of the perimeter thereof wherein the height of the perimeter edge, measured perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces, is less than the device thickness.
3. A method of treating bodily pain of an animal comprising the steps of:
providing a patch member having an adhesive disposed on a first side and a patch mounting structure disposed on a second side, opposite the first side, and an electrically conductive return electrode disposed between the first side and the second side;
providing an electrical stimulation device comprising:
a housing having oppositely disposed, top and bottom surfaces;
a device mounting structure on the bottom surface configured to physically mate with the patch mounting structure;
electrical stimulation generation circuitry disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to deliver electrical stimulation percutaneously;
a rechargeable battery, an inductive charging circuit receiving an inductive charging signal, and a wireless communication module receiving wireless communications to select a stimulation pattern to be generated by the electrical stimulation circuitry;
coupling the electrical stimulation device to the mounting structure;
percutaneously implanting an electrode in subcutaneous bodily tissue of the animal;
electrically coupling the electrode to the electrical stimulation generation circuitry;
generating electrical stimulation using the electrical stimulation generation circuitry; and
delivering the electrical stimulation to the bodily tissue percutaneously.
4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising adhering the patch member to a skin surface of the animal.
5. A method according to claim 3 further comprising observing whether the electrical stimulation at least partially relieved the bodily pain.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the bodily pain is bodily pain existing in the body of the patient after an amputation of a body part.
7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the bodily pain did not exist prior to the amputation.
8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein the bodily pain existed prior to the amputation, but was absent prior to trauma inflicted upon the body part.