Multi-Frequency Neural Treatments and Associated Systems and Methods

Abstract

Multi-frequency neural treatments and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes at least reducing patient pain by applying a first electrical signal to a first target location of the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz, and applying a second electrical signal to a second target location of the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.

1 . A method for treating patient pain, comprising:
 at least reducing patient pain by:
 applying a first electrical signal to a first target location of the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz; and 
 applying a second electrical signal to a second target location of the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz. 
   
   
   
       2 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A method for treating patient pain, comprising:
 inducing paresthesia in the patient by applying a first electrical signal to a dorsal column of the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a first frequency range of from about 40 Hz to about 500 Hz; and   at least partially blocking patient discomfort resulting from the first electrical signal by applying a second electrical signal to at least one of a dorsal root and a dorsal root ganglion of the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.   
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A method for treating patient pain, comprising:
 implanting a first electrode proximate to a dorsal column of the patient's spinal cord region;   implanting a second electrode proximate to at least one of a dorsal root and a dorsal root ganglion of the patient's spinal cord region;   applying a first electrical signal to the first electrode at a frequency in a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz; and   if the patient experiences discomfort, applying a second electrical signal to the second electrode at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz, in combination with applying the first electrical signal, and without repositioning the first electrode.   
   
   
       19 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A system for treating patient pain, comprising:
 a controller having instructions for directing first electrical signals in a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz, and a generating second electrical signals in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz;   a first electrical signal delivery device electrically coupled to the controller to receive the first electrical signals and configured to be positioned proximate to a first target location of the patient's spinal cord region; and   a second electrical signal delivery device electrically coupled to the controller to receive the second electrical signals and configured to be positioned proximate to a second target region of the patient's spinal cord region.   
   
   
       26 - 29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the controller has instructions for directing the second signal at a first frequency and a first amplitude and wherein the controller further has with instructions for:
 decreasing the frequency of the second signal from the first frequency to a second frequency less than the first frequency; or   decreasing the amplitude of the second signal from the first amplitude to a second amplitude less than the first amplitude; or   both decreasing the frequency of the second signal from the first frequency to the second frequency and decreasing the amplitude of the second signal from the first amplitude to the second amplitude.   
   
   
       31 - 36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . A method of managing chronic pain of a patient, comprising:
 applying a first signal to a first section of nerve tissue of a spinal region of the patient to increase or initiate neural activity at the first section of nerve tissue, the first section of nerve tissue being located at a dorsal column of the patient, the first signal having a frequency within a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz; and   applying a second signal to a second section of nerve tissue of the spinal region to at least partially block neural activity at the second section of nerve tissue, the second section of nerve tissue being located at the dorsal column of the patient, the second signal having a frequency within a second frequency range of about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.   
   
   
       38 - 50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . A method for treating patient pain, comprising:
 at least reducing patient back pain by:   applying a first electrical signal to the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a first frequency range of up to about 1,500 Hz; and   applying a second electrical signal to the patient's spinal cord region at a frequency in a second frequency range of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz.   
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein applying the first electrical signal includes applying the first electrical signal to a first target location of the patient's spinal cord region, and wherein applying the second electrical signal includes applying the second electrical signal to a second target location of the patient's spinal cord region. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the first and second target locations are different. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first target location is at a dorsal column of the patient's spinal cord region, and the second target location is at least one of a dorsal root and a dorsal root ganglion of the patient's spinal cord region. 
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the first and second electrical signals are both applied to the dorsal column. 
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the first electrical signal is applied to a first target location at the dorsal column and then second electrical signal is applied to a second target location at the dorsal column, the second location being different than the first location. 
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 51  wherein applying the second electrical signal includes applying the second electrical signal in a second frequency range of from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz. 
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising inducing paresthesia by applying the first electrical signal. 
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising at least partially blocking patient discomfort by applying the second electrical signal. 
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising at least partially blocking patient discomfort resulting from applying the first electrical signal by applying the second electrical signal. 
   
   
       61 . A method for treating patient pain, comprising:
 at least partially inhibiting sensation signals associated with one or more selected regions of a patient's body, without decreasing or eliminating the transmission of motor control impulses, by applying a therapy signal at a frequency of from about 2,500 Hz to about 100,000 Hz, with the therapy signal preferentially affecting dorsally located neural structures within the patient's dura mater at the patient's spinal cord region.   
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein applying a therapy signal includes applying the therapy signal without producing paresthesia. 
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 61  wherein applying a therapy signal includes applying a therapy signal to the patient's dorsal root. 
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 61  wherein applying a therapy signal includes applying a therapy signal to the patient's dorsal root ganglion. 
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 61  wherein applying a therapy signal includes applying a therapy signal to the patient's dorsal column. 
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 61  wherein at least partially inhibiting sensation signals includes blocking pain signals. 
   
   
       67 . The method of  claim 61  wherein applying a therapy signal includes applying a therapy signal having a frequency of from about 2,500 Hz to about 20,000 Hz. 
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 61  wherein applying a therapy signal includes applying a therapy signal having a frequency of from about 3,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz.