Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.

1 - 137 . (canceled) 
     
     
         138 . A spinal cord modulation system for delivering an electrical therapy signal to a patient's spinal cord, wherein the system is configured to deliver the electrical therapy signal to the patient's spinal cord via one or more implantable electrodes, the system comprising:
 an implantable device having a signal generator coupleable to the one or more electrodes, and having executable instructions to generate and deliver the electrical therapy signal to the patient's spinal cord from an epidural location via the one or more electrodes, wherein the electrical therapy signal has
 a plurality of sequential bi-phasic pulses having a pulse width between 10 microseconds and 333 microseconds, and 
 an amplitude between 0.5 mA and 10 mA, which at least partially reduces the patient's sensation of pain without generating paresthesia; and 
   an external power source positionable relative to the implantable device to provide power wirelessly to the signal generator.   
     
     
         139 . The system of  claim 138  wherein the external power source is portable. 
     
     
         140 . The system of  claim 138  wherein the external power source includes an external coil to transmit power to the implantable device. 
     
     
         141 . The system of  claim 140  wherein the implantable device includes an internal coil positionable to receive power from the external coil of the external power source. 
     
     
         142 . The system of  claim 138  wherein the external power source is rechargeable. 
     
     
         143 . The system of  claim 138  wherein the implantable device does not include a battery. 
     
     
         144 . The system of  claim 138  wherein the implantable device includes a battery. 
     
     
         145 . The system of  claim 144  wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         146 . The system of  claim 144  wherein the battery is a non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         147 . The system of  claim 138 , further comprising a patient programmer that is wirelessly coupleable to the implantable device. 
     
     
         148 . The system of  claim 138 , further comprising a physician's programmer that is wirelessly coupleable to the implantable device. 
     
     
         149 . The system of  claim 138 , further comprising:
 a patient programmer that is wirelessly coupleable to the implantable device to affect operation of the signal generator;   a physician's programmer that is wirelessly coupleable to the implantable device to affect operation of the signal generator; and   wherein the physician's programmer has control over more operations of the signal generator than does the patient programmer.   
     
     
         150 . A method for using a spinal cord modulation system to address a patient's pain, wherein the system is configured to deliver an electrical therapy signal to the patient's spinal cord via one or more implantable electrodes, the method comprising:
 programming an implantable device, having a signal generator coupled to the one or more electrodes, to generate and deliver the electrical therapy signal to the patient's spinal cord from an epidural location via the one or electrodes, wherein the electrical therapy signal has
 a plurality of sequential bi-phasic pulses having a pulse width between 10 microseconds and 333 microseconds, and 
 an amplitude between 0.5 mA and 10 mA, which at least partially reduces the patient's sensation of pain without generating paresthesia; and 
   wirelessly directing power to the signal generator from an external power source.   
     
     
         151 . The method of  claim 150  wherein the external power source is portable. 
     
     
         152 . The method of  claim 150  wherein directing power includes directing power via an external coil. 
     
     
         153 . The method of  claim 150  wherein directing power includes directing power from an external coil of the external power source to an internal coil of the implantable device. 
     
     
         154 . The method of  claim 150  wherein programming the implantable device includes programming the implantable device wirelessly via a patient programmer. 
     
     
         155 . The method of  claim 150  wherein programming the implantable device includes programming the implantable device wirelessly via a physician's programmer. 
     
     
         156 . The method of  claim 150  wherein the pulses form a bi-phasic square wave. 
     
     
         157 . The method of  claim 150  wherein at least a portion of the signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz. 
     
     
         158 . The method of  claim 150  wherein at least a portion of the signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from 1.5 kHz to 50 kHz. 
     
     
         159 . The method of  claim 150  wherein at least a portion of the signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from 3 kHz to 10 kHz. 
     
     
         160 . The method of  claim 150  wherein at least a portion of the signal has a frequency of 10 kHz. 
     
     
         161 . The method of  claim 150  wherein the pulse width range is from 25 microseconds to 166 microseconds. 
     
     
         162 . The method of  claim 150  wherein the pulse width range is from 33 microseconds to 100 microseconds. 
     
     
         163 . The method of  claim 150  wherein the pulse width range is from 30 microseconds and 35 microseconds.