The medical method of treating pain and inflammations including neurogenic inflammation of the visceral or somatic organ known herein as the effector in human body involve and mediate by the afferent nervous system and the autonomic nervous system innervating the visceral or somatic organ. The method is the application of an electrical current stimulus or an electromagnetic stimulus to aforementioned nervous systems innervating adjacent or distant soft tissues known herein as the affector. The technique is the reversibly and percutaneously implanting a pair of anode needle electrode and cathode needle electrode or a concentric needle electrode functioning with an anode and a cathode in the affector and passing of electrical current of sufficient amperage to excite or inhibit the activity of the nerves and the nerve receptors innervating the affector. Electrical current is transmitted from a current generating device through the electrical leads to the electrode(s) and then to the nerves and the nerve receptors. Alternative stimulus is the transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus delivered to the nerves and the nerve receptors by the application of the transcutaneous electromagnetic stimulus producing device over the nerves and the nerve receptors innervating the affector.
A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating patients suffering from severe, unrelenting pain. A therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied from a stimulus generator, when activated, to at least some of plural electrodes implanted in stimulating relation to at least two nerves among the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and the stimulus generator is activated to generate the therapeutic stimulation signal to alleviate the pain under treatment. Alternatively, the therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied to at least one electrode implanted in stimulating relation to at least one of the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and if the selected nerve is the vagus nerve, the signal is applied to a supra-diaphragmatic or sub-diaphragmatic site, either unilaterally or bilaterally to one or both branches, respectively, of the vagus nerve.
A process for treating aberrant sensory afferents and motor efferents includes performing a singular sensory or motor function test, and identifying an area of dysfunction. A nerve root and pathway to the area of dysfunction, a structural or biochemical component of the dysfunction, vascular supply to the area of dysfunction, blood supply/lymphatic drainage for the area of dysfunction, and viscera associated with the area of dysfunction is then identified. These areas are stimulated using the therapeutic device until retesting no longer detects any dysfunction. Neurological inhibition is identified by performing two or more sensory or motor function tests simultaneously. The therapeutic device is used to stimulate the area of dysfunction, spine and head until the neurological inhibition is no longer detected.
Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin outside the body. Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods may include a steerable introducer that defines an interior lumen sized and configured to shield a percutaneous electrode from contact with tissue during advancement to a desired position within tissue.
Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin outside the body.
Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin outside the body or worn or carried by the patient. The assemblies, systems, and methods include an electrode sized and configured for implantation in tissue, a percutaneous lead electrically coupled to the electrode, a carrier sized and configured to be carried by the patient and to hold a power source, an electronics pod removably carried on-board the carrier and including circuitry configured to generate a stimulation pulse, and an electrode connection element carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the electronics pod. Instructions furnished by a clinician or caregiver or physician prescribe the release and replacement of a disposable battery according to a prescribed battery replacement regime.
