SELECTIVE HIGH FREQUENCY SPINAL CORD MODULATION FOR INHIBITING PAIN WITH REDUCED SIDE EFFECTS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal chord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side affects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
1 . (canceled)
2 - 137 . (canceled)
138 . A method for treating a patient, comprising:
receiving an input corresponding to an indication that the patient has a chemical dependency; and
based at least in part on the indication, delivering an electrical therapy signal to the patient via a signal delivery device implanted epidurally at the patient's spinal region, the therapy signal having a frequency in a frequency range of from 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz, and wherein the therapy signal at least partially alleviates the patient's chemical dependency without generating paresthesia.
139 . The method of claim 138 wherein the chemical dependency includes an opioid addiction.
140 . The method of claim 138 , further comprising providing pain relief to the patient via the electrical therapy signal.
141 . The method of claim 140 wherein the input further includes an indication that the patient has at least one of back pain or leg pain.
142 . The method of claim 138 wherein the frequency range is from 1.5 kHz to 50 kHz.
143 . The method of claim 138 wherein the frequency range is from 3 kHz to 20 kHz.
144 . The method of claim 138 wherein the frequency range is from 3 kHz to 10 kHz.
145 . The method of claim 138 wherein the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 10 microseconds to 333 microseconds.
146 . The method of claim 138 wherein the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 15 microseconds to 166 microseconds.
147 . The method of claim 138 wherein the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 30 microseconds to 35 microseconds.
148 . The method of claim 138 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.1 mA to 20 mA.
149 . The method of claim 138 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA.
150 . The method of claim 138 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 4 mA.
151 . The method of claim 138 wherein:
the frequency range is from 3 kHz to 20 kHz;
the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 30 microseconds to 35 microseconds; and
the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA.
152 . A method for treating a patient, comprising:
receiving an indication that the patient has a chemical dependency; and
based at least in part on the indication, programming a pulse generator to deliver to the patient, via a signal delivery device implanted epidurally at the patient's spinal region, a therapy signal having a frequency in a frequency range of from 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz, and wherein the therapy signal at least partially alleviates the patient's chemical dependency without generating paresthesia.
153 . The method of claim 152 wherein the chemical dependency includes an opioid addiction.
154 . The method of claim 152 , further comprising providing pain relief to the patient via the electrical therapy signal.
155 . The method of claim 154 wherein the input further includes an indication that the patient has at least one of back pain or leg pain.
156 . The method of claim 152 wherein the frequency range is from 1.5 kHz to 50 kHz.
157 . The method of claim 152 wherein the frequency range is from 3 kHz to 20 kHz.
158 . The method of claim 152 wherein the frequency range is from 3 kHz to 10 kHz.
159 . The method of claim 152 wherein the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 10 microseconds to 333 microseconds.
160 . The method of claim 152 wherein the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 15 microseconds to 166 microseconds.
161 . The method of claim 152 wherein the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 30 microseconds to 35 microseconds.
162 . The method of claim 152 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.1 mA to 20 mA.
163 . The method of claim 152 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA.
164 . The method of claim 152 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 4 mA.
165 . The method of claim 152 wherein:
the frequency range is from 3 kHz to 20 kHz;
the therapy signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from 30 microseconds to 35 microseconds; and
the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA.
166 . A spinal cord modulation system for treating a patient, the system comprising:
a pulse generator that, in operation, generates a non-paresthesia-producing therapy signal to at least partially alleviate the patient's chemical dependency, wherein at least a portion of the therapy signal has a frequency in a frequency range between 1.5 kHz and 100 kHz;
one or more implantable electrical contacts electrically coupled to the pulse generator and designed to deliver the therapy signal to the patient's spinal cord region; and
an external power source, wherein the external power source is wirelessly coupleable to the pulse generator to transmit power to the pulse generator.
167 . The system of claim 166 wherein the pulse generator is implantable.
168 . The system of claim 166 wherein the one or more electrical contacts are adapted to deliver the therapy signal to a location proximate to a dorsal root, dorsal root entry zone, or dorsal root ganglion.
169 . The system of claim 166 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range from 0.5 mA to 10 mA.
170 . The system of claim 166 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude less than 6 mA.
171 . The system of claim 166 wherein the therapy signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range between 0.5 and 4 mA.
172 . The system of claim 166 wherein the frequency is in a frequency range between 3 kHz and 10 kHz.
173 . The system of claim 166 wherein the frequency is 10 kHz.
174 . The system of claim 166 wherein the one or more electrical contacts include a cylindrical contact.
175 . The system of claim 166 wherein the pulse generator, in operation, also generates a paresthesia-generating electrical signal.
176 . The system of claim 166 wherein the external power source is adapted to transmit power to the pulse generator using RF signals.