Method for neurological stimulation of peripheral nerves to treat pain

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a system for neurological stimulation of peripheral nerve fibers is provided. The system includes stimulation electrodes adapted to be implanted in tissue proximate a network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating a painful region of a patient's body and to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to the network of peripheral nerve fibers located in and innervating the painful region.

1 . A method for treating pain, comprising:
 positioning one or more stimulation leads with a plurality of electrodes being disposed in a painful region in a patient's body having an approximate epicenter of pain, wherein positioning comprises positioning the plurality of electrodes in the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue superior to fascia containing a network of localized peripheral nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region without regard to a specific or identifiable nerve or nerve branch;   using an electrical stimulation source implanted in a person's body, generating electrical pulses for transmission to the plurality of electrodes; and   in response to the electrical stimulation pulses transmitted from the stimulation source implanted in the person's body, treating the patient's pain by using the plurality of electrodes to stimulate the network of localized sensory nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region of the patient's body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the painful region comprises a region of the trunk. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the painful region comprises a region of the limbs. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the painful region comprises a region of the back. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of electrodes are positioned immediately proximate to an epicenter of pain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation source generates the stimulation pulses according to one or more stimulation sets each specifying a plurality of stimulation parameters to relieve pain in the painful region. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the stimulation parameters for a stimulation set comprising a polarity for each electrode at each of one or more times within a stimulation pulse for the stimulation set. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation source generates the stimulation pulses according to a plurality of stimulation programs each comprising one or more stimulation sets, each stimulation set specifying a plurality of stimulation parameters to relieve pain in the painful region. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulation pulses of the network of localized peripheral nerve fibers provides paresthesia with respect to the painful region. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising identifying a sub-region having an approximate epicenter of pain within a region of pain and positioning the one or more stimulation leads such that the plurality of electrodes are disposed in the sub-region and substantially aligned along a greatest axis of the region of pain. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising at least one or more of the stimulation leads being adapted to comprise a plurality of infusion ports and capable of coupling to an infusion pump. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising using an implantable infusion pump to deliver a medication or chemical to the network of localized sensory nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region of the patient's body. 
     
     
         14 . A method for treating back pain, comprising:
 positioning one or more stimulation leads with a plurality of electrodes being disposed in a sub-region having an approximate epicenter of pain of back pain, wherein positioning comprises positioning the plurality of electrodes in the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue superior to fascia containing a network of localized peripheral nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region without regard to a specific or identifiable nerve or nerve branch;   using an electrical stimulation source implanted in a person's body, generating electrical pulses for transmission to the plurality of electrodes; and   in response to the electrical stimulation pulses transmitted from the stimulation source implanted in the person's body, treating the patient's back pain by using the plurality of electrodes to stimulate the network of localized sensory nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region.   
     
     
         15 . A method for treating pain, comprising:
 positioning one or more infusion catheters with a plurality of infusion ports being disposed in a painful region in a patient's body having an approximate epicenter of pain, wherein positioning comprises positioning the plurality of infusion ports in the epidermis, dermis, or subcutaneous tissue superior to fascia containing a network of localized peripheral nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region without regard to a specific or identifiable nerve or nerve branch;   using an implantable infusion pump to deliver a medication or chemical to the plurality of infusion ports; and   in response to the medication or chemical, treating the patient's pain by using the plurality of infusion ports to deliver medication or chemical to stimulate the network of localized sensory nerve fibers located in and influencing the painful region of the patient's body.