Inventors:
Fred I. Linker - Los Altos CA, US
Daniel M. Brounstein - San Francisco CA, US
Albert G. Burdulis - San Francisco CA, US
Eric T. Johnson - Temecula CA, US
Phillip C. Burke - Temecula CA, US
Evan S. VandenBrink - San Francisco CA, US
Eric J. Grigsby - Napa CA, US
Henry L.S. Tan - Daly City CA, US
International Classification:
A61B 17/00, A61N 1/05
Abstract:
Devices, systems and methods are provided for accessing and treating anatomies associated with a variety of conditions while minimizing possible complications and side effects. This is achieved by directly neuromodulating a target anatomy associated with the condition while minimizing or excluding undesired neuromodulation of other anatomies. Typically, this involves stimulating portions of neural tissue of the central nervous system, wherein the central nervous system includes the spinal cord and the pairs of nerves along the spinal cord which are known as spinal nerves. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention are used to selectively stimulate portions of the spinal nerves, particularly one or more dorsal root ganglions (DRGs), to treat chronic pain while causing minimal deleterious side effects such as undesired motor responses.