Devices and methods for nerve stimulation

Abstract

Methods and devices for stimulating a nerve in a patient include emitting an electrical signal near a spinal nerve within the patient. The electrical signal is generated within the housing and comprises bursts of pulses. Each burst of pulses comprises a burst period and a constant period, Each burst period comprises 2 to 20 pulses and at least a portion of each constant period comprises zero pulses. At least one of the pulses has a duration of about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds.

1 . A method comprising:
 generating an electrical signal within a housing;   positioning a lead near, or in operational proximity to, a spinal nerve within a patient;   emitting the electrical signal via the lead towards the spinal nerve; and   wherein the electrical signal generated within the housing comprises bursts of pulses, wherein each burst of pulses comprises a burst period and a constant period, wherein each burst period comprises 2 to 20 pulses, wherein at least a portion of each constant period comprises zero pulses, wherein at least one of the pulses has a duration of about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lead includes an electrode, and further comprising positioning the electrode near, or in operational proximity to, the spinal nerve and applying a voltage to the electrode such that an electric field is generated. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulses alternate between positive and negative between 2 times to 20 times during each burst period. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulses alternates between positive and negative 4 and 10 times during each burst period. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the burst periods have a frequency of about 15 to about 50 Hz. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each burst period has a duration of less than about 20,000 microseconds. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each burst period has a duration of less than about 10,000 microseconds. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pulses has a duration of about 100 microseconds to about 400 microseconds. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the constant periods has a longer duration than each of the burst periods. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising varying a voltage such that a charge of an electric field emitted during each of the burst periods alternates between positive and negative. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the electric field emitted during at least a portion of the constant periods has a magnitude of zero. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is sufficient to modulate the spinal nerve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical signal is sufficient to depolarize the spinal nerve. 
     
     
         14 . A device comprising:
 a housing;   a lead extending from the housing, wherein the lead is configured to be positioned near, or in operational proximity to, a spinal nerve; and   a source of energy operably coupled to the lead;   a signal generator configured for generating an electrical signal via the lead towards the spinal nerve, wherein the electrical signal comprises bursts of pulses, wherein each burst of pulses comprises a burst period and a constant period, wherein each burst period comprises 2 to 20 pulses, wherein at least a portion of each constant period comprises zero pulses, wherein at least one of the pulses has a duration of about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the lead includes an electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the pulses alternate between positive and negative between 2 times to 20 times during each burst period. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the pulses alternate between positive and negative 4 and 10 times during each burst period. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the burst periods have a frequency of about 15 to about 50 Hz. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein each burst period has a duration of less than about 20,000 microseconds. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein each burst period has a duration of less than about 10,000 microseconds. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the pulses has a duration of about 100 microseconds to about 400 microseconds. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the constant periods has a longer duration than each of the burst periods. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the signal generator varies a voltage such that a charge of an electric field emitted during each of the burst periods alternates between positive and negative. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the electric field emitted during at least a portion of the constant periods has a magnitude of zero. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical signal is sufficient to modulate the spinal nerve. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the electrical signal is sufficient to depolarize the spinal nerve.