The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 06, 2005
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2001
Carla M. Mann, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Todd K. Whitehurst, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
James P. Mcgivern, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Gerald E. Loeb, So. Pasadena, CA (US);
Frances J. R. Richmond, So. Pasadena, CA (US);
Carla M. Mann, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Todd K. Whitehurst, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
James P. McGivern, Stevenson Ranch, CA (US);
Gerald E. Loeb, So. Pasadena, CA (US);
Frances J. R. Richmond, So. Pasadena, CA (US);
Advanced Bionics Corporation, Valencia, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and system for treatment of incontinence, urgency, frequency, and/or pelvic pain includes implantation of electrodes on a lead or the discharge portion of a catheter adjacent the perineal nerve(s) or tissue(s) to be stimulated. Stimulation pulses, either electrical or drug infusion pulses, are supplied by a stimulator implanted remotely, and through the lead or catheter, which is tunneled subcutaneously between the stimulator and stimulation site. For instance, the system and method reduce or eliminate the incidence of unintentional episodes of bladder emptying by stimulating nerve pathways that diminish involuntary bladder contractions, improve closure of the bladder outlet, and/or improve the long-term health of the urinary system by increasing bladder capacity and period between emptying. Moreover, the system and method allow a patient to be taught to receive one or more patterns of neural stimulation that can be prescribed by a physician and administered without continuous oversight by a clinical practitioner.