Systems and methods to place one or more leads in tissue for providing functional and/or therapeutic stimulation
Systems and methods make possible the placement of one or more electrode leads in a tissue region for providing functional and/or therapeutic stimulation to tissue. The systems and methods are adapted to provide the relief of pain.
1. A method to reduce and/or relieve pain in a painful region comprising:
percutaneously inserting a coiled lead through skin of a patient;
positioning an electrode extending from the coiled lead into adipose or connective tissue outside of the painful region;
stimulating a peripheral nerve innervating the painful region with the electrode, wherein the electrode is positioned near the peripheral nerve; and
evoking a tingling sensation over at least a portion of the painful region without damaging the peripheral nerve.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulation step is conducted a therapeutic time.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at a conclusion of the therapeutic time the electrode is removed from the adipose or connective tissue.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the therapeutic time ranges from approximately one to twelve weeks.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein pain relief is sustained after removal of the electrode.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral nerve includes a peripheral nerve passing through at least one of a brachial plexus, lumbar plexus, sacral plexus, and cervical plexus.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral nerve includes at least one of a femoral nerve, sciatic nerve, radial nerve, median nerve, ulnar nerve, and an intercostal nerve.
8. A system to reduce and/or relieve pain in a painful region, the system comprising:
a coiled lead having an electrode extending therefrom, wherein the electrode is placed near a peripheral nerve innervating the painful region and outside of the painful region; and
an electrical stimulator operatively coupled with the lead, the electrical stimulator, through the electrode, evoking a tingling sensation over at least a portion of the painful region without damaging the peripheral nerve.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lead is configured to withstand mechanical forces and resists migration during the evoking of the comfortable sensation.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the lead includes a coiled fine wire electrode lead configured to withstand mechanical forces and resists migration during long-term use.
11. A method to alleviate pain comprising:
inserting a lead having an electrode through skin of a patient;
positioning the electrode near a peripheral nerve innervating a painful region, the at least one electrode positioned outside of the painful region;
applying stimulation through the electrode; and
stimulating the peripheral nerve to alleviate pain in the painful region without functional nerve stimulation at a motor point and without damaging the peripheral nerve.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising evoking a tingling sensation over at least a portion of the painful region.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein evoking the comfortable sensation includes applying an electrical stimulation to the peripheral nerve during or after the insertion of the lead and determining whether the electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve generates the comfortable sensation over the at least a portion of the targeted painful region.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning the electrode is guided by a patient's report of the tingling sensation.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the patient's report of the tingling sensation indicates confirmation of placement of the electrode to alleviate the pain in the targeted painful region.
16. A method to alleviate pain comprising:
inserting a lead having an electrode through skin of a patient;
positioning the electrode within at least one of a range of distances from a peripheral nerve innervating a painful region,
applying simulation through the electrode; and
activating the peripheral nerve to alleviate pain in the painful region without functional nerve stimulation at a motor point and without damaging the peripheral nerve.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the peripheral nerve includes a nerve trunk.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein activating the nerve trunk alleviates the pain in the painful region.
19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the lead is inserted into tissue upstream of the targeted pain area.
20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the electrode is positioned remote from and upstream of the painful region.