Patent ID: 7979131
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of treating chronic pain in a patient with spinal cord stimulation, wherein (i) the chronic pain includes a first pain component within a first bodily sub-region of the trunk of the patient, (ii) the chronic pain includes a second pain component within a second bodily sub-region of the lower extremities of the patient separated from the first bodily sub-region by intervening bodily sub-regions, (iii) a stimulation lead is implanted within the epidural space of the patient, the method comprising: selecting from the stimulation lead a first set of stimulation parameters including one or more first active electrode to treat chronic pain in the first bodily sub-region; selecting from the stimulation lead a second set of stimulation parameters including one or more second active electrode to treat chronic pain in the second bodily sub-region; wherein the stimulation lead comprises a paddle structure with at least 10 electrodes disposed in at least five mutually adjacent columns and at least two adjacent rows on the paddle structure; controlling a pulse generator to apply electrical pulses to the patient through the stimulation lead according to the first and second set of stimulation parameters, wherein: (i) a first electrical field, created by stimulation pulses having the first set of stimulation parameters applied through the first active electrode, has a restricted spatial resolution to stimulate a first set of one or more dorsal column fibers; (ii) a second electrical field, created by stimulation pulses having the second set of stimulation parameters applied through the second active electrode, has a restricted spatial resolution to stimulate a second set of one or more dorsal column fibers; wherein, in response to the applied electrical pulses, the patient experiences paresthesia in the first and second bodily sub-regions and the patient experiences minimal sensory effects from the applied electrical pulses in the intervening bodily sub-regions.