Method and apparatus for treating restless legs syndrome

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods are disclosed that may be used to treat one or more restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms of a patient. One example method may include generating first and second stimulation waveforms using a waveform generator; electrically stimulating at least a portion of a sacral region of the patient, based on the first and second stimulation waveforms, using a number of electrodes; damping or interfering with electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain to the patient's legs via a femoral nerve of the patient using the electrical stimulation; and reducing the one or more symptoms of RLS based on damping or interfering with the electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating one or more restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms of a patient, the system comprising:
 a waveform generator configured to generate first and second stimulation waveforms;   a first electrode adapted to be positioned on a left portion of the patient's lumbar region and configured to receive the first stimulation waveform on a first channel;   a second electrode adapted to be positioned on a right portion of the patient's lumbar region and configured to receive the second stimulation waveform on a second channel;   a third electrode adapted to be positioned over an upper rear portion of the patient's right leg and configured to receive the first stimulation waveform on the first channel; and   a fourth electrode adapted to be positioned over an upper rear portion of the patient's left leg and configured to receive the second stimulation waveform on the second channel.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are configured to electrically stimulate at least a portion of a femoral nerve of the patient based on the first and second stimulation waveforms. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to dampen or interfere with electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain to the patient's legs via the femoral nerve. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to reduce one or more symptoms of RLS. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first electrode is adapted to be positioned between an L4 vertebrae and an S2 vertebrae of the patient;   the second electrode is adapted to be positioned between the L4 vertebrae and the S2 vertebrae of the patient;   the third electrode is adapted to be positioned over a hamstring of the patient's right leg; and   the fourth electrode is adapted to be positioned between over a hamstring of the patient's left leg.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first electrode and the third electrode are configured to transcutaneously apply a first electrical current in a first diagonal direction across a sacral region of the patient based on the first stimulation waveform; and   the second electrode and the fourth electrode are configured to transcutaneously apply a second electrical current in a second diagonal direction across the sacral region of the patient based on the second stimulation waveform.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first diagonal direction is substantially orthogonal to the second diagonal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second electrical currents are configured to electrically stimulate a femoral nerve of the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second stimulation waveforms has a frequency of approximately 250 Hz, a pulse width of approximately 250 microseconds, and a current between approximately 8 and 12 milliamps. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors adapted to be positioned on one or more corresponding portions of the patient's body and configured to provide feedback information to the waveform generator.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the waveform generator is configured to selectively adjust the first and second stimulation waveforms based on the feedback information. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are disposed within a wearable garment. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the waveform generator is disposed within the wearable garment. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first channel comprises a first set of conductive traces embedded within the wearable garment, and the second channel comprises a second set of conductive traces embedded within the wearable garment. 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating one or more restless leg syndrome (RLS) symptoms of a patient, the method comprising:
 generating first and second stimulation waveforms using a waveform generator;   electrically stimulating at least a portion of a sacral region of the patient, based on the first and second stimulation waveforms, using a number of electrodes; and   damping or interfering with electrical signals transmitted from the patient's brain to the patient's legs via a femoral nerve of the patient using the electrical stimulation.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the number of electrodes comprises first, second, third, and fourth electrodes, and the electrically stimulating comprises:
 inducing a first electrical current to transcutaneously flow between the first electrode and the third electrode based on the first stimulation waveform; and   inducing a second electrical current to transcutaneously flow between the second electrode and the fourth electrode based on the second stimulation waveform.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first and second stimulation waveforms has a frequency of approximately 250 Hz, a pulse width of approximately 250 microseconds, and a current between approximately 8 and 12 milliamps. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical stimulation is configured to target the femoral nerve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 reducing one or more symptoms of RLS based on the damping or interfering.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 selectively adjusting the first and second stimulation waveforms based on feedback information indicating involuntary limb movements of the patient.