Combination electrical stimulating and infusion medical device and method

Abstract

A combined electrical and chemical stimulation lead is especially adapted for providing treatment to intervertebral discs. The combination lead may be placed proximate to intervertebral disc cellular matrix and nucleus pulposus tissue to promote tissue regeneration and repair, as well as nociceptor and neural tissue modulation. The stimulation lead includes electrodes that may be selectively positioned along various portions of the stimulation lead in order to precisely direct electrical energy to stimulate the target tissue. The lead also includes a central infusion passageway or lumen that communicates with various infusion ports spaced at selected locations along the lead to thereby direct the infusion of nutrients/chemicals to the target tissue. One embodiment utilizes a dissolvable matrix for infusion as opposed to remote delivery through an infusion pump.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 11 / 033,591, filed on Jan. 11, 2005, entitled “Combination Electrical Stimulating and Infusion Medical Device”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to electrical stimulation leads and chemical infusion catheters for treatment of medical conditions, and more particularly, to a system, method and device for providing combined electrical stimulation and chemical / drug infusion for treatment of intervertebral disc ailments. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is known that immersing certain cell types within an electrical field will cause these cells to proliferate thus facilitating tissue repair. One known use of an electrical field for such repair is “in bone” stimulators that are implanted in fractures and / or spinal fusions. Another type of treatment ha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] In accordance with the present invention, a combined electrical and chemical stimulation device is provided that is especially adapted for treatment of intervertebral disc ailments. The stimulation device is in the form of a stimulation lead designed to be placed in the disc percutaneously through an introducer needle using an extra-pedicular approach; however, micro-surgical or open-surgical techniques may also be utilized. More specifically, the device of the present invention is specifically designed to facilitate placement proximate to the metabolically active cellu

Problems solved by technology

Preferably, the electrodes extend circumferentially around a selected length or portion of the

Images