Method and apparatus for multimodal electrical modulation of pain

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for managing pain uses separate varying electromagnetic fields, with a variety of temporal and amplitude characteristics, which are applied to a particular neural structure to modulate glial and neuronal interactions as a mechanism for relieving chronic pain. In another embodiment, a single composite modulation/stimulation signal which has rhythmically varying characteristics is used to achieve the same results as separate varying electromagnetic fields. Also, disclosed is an apparatus and method for modulating the expression of genes involved in diverse pathways including inflammatory/immune system mediators, ion channels and neurotransmitters, in both the Spinal Cord (SC) and Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) where such expression modulation is caused by spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation using the disclosed apparatus and techniques. In one embodiment of multimodal modulation therapy, the prime signal may be monophasic, or biphasic, in which the polarity of the first phase of the biphasic prime signal may be either cathodic or anodic while the tonic signal may be either monophasic, or biphasic, with the polarity of the first phase of the biphasic tonic signal being either cathodic or anodic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a signal generation module, and   one or more leads configured for exposing glial cells and neurons of a subject simultaneously to a first electromagnetic stimulus and a second electromagnetic stimulus, and   wherein the signal generation module is configured for having an operating mode for providing a first and a second electric signal having at least one of a common and uncommon parameter therebetween to the one or more leads.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generation module comprises at least a first and a second electric signal source and the one or more leads comprise at least a first and a second subgroup of electrodes, wherein the first subgroup of electrodes is electrically coupled to the first electric signal source and wherein the second subgroup of electrodes is electrically coupled to the second electric signal source. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generation module is configured for having an operating mode for providing a priming signal to the first subgroup of electrodes and simultaneously providing a tonic signal to the second subgroup of electrodes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electric signal and the second electric signal have any of different respective amplitudes, frequencies, relative phases, phase polarities, waveform shapes, and widths. 
     
     
         5 - 56 . (canceled)