Patent ID: 11504532

Abstract:
A chest tube device with neurostimulation is provided, along with a method of electrically stimulating at least one of (i) one or more peripheral nerves and (ii) one or more nerve fibers of a thoracic region of a patient, to mitigate pain in patients undergoing chest tube implantation. The chest tube device includes a tubular member and an electro-analgesic region to provide neurostimulation to one or more peripheral nerves and/or nerve fibers of the thoracic region of the patient. The method includes electrically stimulating one or more peripheral nerves and/or nerve fibers of the thoracic region of the patient, and hyperpolarizing the one or more peripheral nerves and/or nerve fibers of the thoracic region to (i) reduce an amount of pain signals from being transmitted to the brain of the patient and/or (ii) prevent pain signals from being transmitted to the brain of the patient.