Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for Pain Management in New Therapeutic Areas

This inventive concept leverages the core technology of peripheral nerve stimulation to address unmet needs in pain management across various therapeutic areas, including post-operative pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorder.

The original patent focused on treating inflammatory bowel disease through peripheral nerve stimulation. However, there exists a significant unmet need for effective pain management solutions in various therapeutic areas. This inventive concept addresses this limitation by applying the core technology to new applications, providing a novel solution for pain relief and relaxation.

The new claims describe systems and methods for treating symptoms of post-operative pain, migraines, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, and temporomandibular joint disorder through transcutaneous stimulation of peripheral nerves. The inventive concept involves positioning a peripheral nerve effector on the patient's skin to stimulate the peripheral nerve, delivering an electrical nerve stimulation signal tailored to selectively stimulate nerve fibers associated with pain relief and relaxation. The control unit configures the electrical nerve stimulation signal to optimize pain relief and relaxation for each specific therapeutic area.

The novelty of this inventive concept lies in the application of peripheral nerve stimulation technology to new therapeutic areas, addressing unmet needs in pain management. The inventive step involves tailoring the electrical nerve stimulation signal to selectively stimulate nerve fibers associated with pain relief and relaxation for each specific therapeutic area, providing a targeted and effective solution.

Alternative embodiments may include varying the peripheral nerve effector design, adjusting the electrical nerve stimulation signal parameters, or incorporating additional sensors or feedback mechanisms to optimize pain relief and relaxation. Variations may also include combining peripheral nerve stimulation with other pain management modalities, such as pharmaceuticals or physical therapy.

The inventive concept has significant commercial potential in the pain management market, with applications in post-operative care, migraine treatment, fibromyalgia management, complex regional pain syndrome therapy, and temporomandibular joint disorder treatment. The target industries include pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services.