Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for treating peripheral vascular disease and organ ischemia by electrical stimulation with closed loop feedback control

US6058331A · kind A · utility

754Cited by
10References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 27, 1998
Grant dateMay 2, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 27, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/36117
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention discloses techniques for therapeutically treating peripheral vascular disease. A sensor is implemented for sensing the extent of blood flow in a patient's limb or ischemic pain and generating a corresponding sensor signal. The signal is processed to determine the level of spinal cord stimulation or peripheral nerve stimulation to be applied. This information is provided to a signal generator which thereby provides electrical stimulation energy to one or more stimulation leads. Stimulation of the spinal cord, peripheral nerve or neural tissue ganglia thereby improves blood flow, helps restore tissue health and reduces the extent of ischemic pain in the limbs of a PVD patient or organs of other patients. The present invention thereby allows the stimulation to be adjusted automatically to account for changing conditions of the patient throughout the day.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.