Systems and methods for identifying and treating patients with high-frequency electrical signals

Abstract

Systems and methods for identifying and treating patients with high frequency electrical signals. A representative method for identifying a patient as a candidate for pain treatment includes identifying a first sensory threshold, delivering an electrical signal to a neural population of the patient at a frequency in a frequency range of 1.5 kHz to 100 kHz and, while and/or after delivering the electrical signal to the patient, identifying a second sensory threshold of the patient. If the second sensory threshold is less than the first, the method can include identifying the patient as a candidate for receiving an electrical signal at a frequency in the foregoing range for pain treatment.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of treating a patient having sensation loss associated with a neuropathic disease, the method comprising:
 at least partially in response to the patient having the sensation loss, programming a signal generator to deliver, via at least one implanted signal delivery element, a paresthesia-free electrical signal to the patient's spinal cord to at least partially restore the lost sensation,   wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal has a frequency of about 10 kHz, a pulse width in a pulse width range of from about 30 microseconds to about 40 microseconds, and an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the lost sensation includes loss of response to a pin prick, pressure, heat, and/or cold. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the at least one implanted signal delivery element is positioned at a vertebral level of from T8 to T12. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the at least one signal delivery element includes at least one electrical contact implanted in the patient's epidural space. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein programming the signal generator includes programming an implanted signal generator. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein programming the signal generator includes programming an external signal generator. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation by increasing transmission of neural activity induced in response to a sensory input. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation by restoring transmission of naturally occurring neural activity. 
     
     
         37 . A method of treating a patient having sensation loss associated with a neuropathic disease, the method comprising:
 at least partially in response to the patient having the sensation loss, programming a signal generator to deliver, via at least one implanted signal delivery element, a paresthesia-free electrical signal to the patient's spinal cord,   wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 5 kHz to about 15 kHz, and   wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from about 20 microseconds to about 100 microseconds. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal has an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein programming the signal generator includes programming an implantable signal generator. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation by increasing transmission of neural activity induced in response to a sensory input. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation by restoring transmission of naturally occurring neural activity. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the lost sensation includes loss of response to a pin prick, pressure, heat, and/or cold. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the at least one implanted signal delivery element is positioned at a vertebral level of from T8 to T12. 
     
     
         45 . A method of treating a patient having sensation loss associated with a neuropathic disease, the method comprising:
 at least partially in response to the patient having the sensation loss, programming a signal generator to deliver, via at least one implanted signal delivery element, a paresthesia-free electrical signal to the patient's spinal cord,   wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal has a frequency in a frequency range of from about 1.5 kHz to about 100 kHz, and   wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the frequency range is from about 1.5 kHz to about 50 kHz, and wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal has a pulse width in a pulse width range of from about 10 microseconds to about 133 microseconds, and an amplitude in an amplitude range of from 0.5 mA to 10 mA. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation by increasing transmission of neural activity induced in response to a sensory input. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the paresthesia-free electrical signal at least partially restores the lost sensation by restoring transmission of naturally occurring neural activity. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the lost sensation includes loss of response to a pin prick, pressure, heat, and/or cold. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the at least one implanted signal delivery element is positioned at a vertebral level of from T8 to T12.