초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for neuromodulation therapy for urinary incontinence and urological disorders comprises an implantable lead-receiver, and an external stimulator having a power source, controlling circuitry, and predetermined programs. The stimulator further includes a primary coil which indu

An apparatus and method for neuromodulation therapy for urinary incontinence and urological disorders comprises an implantable lead-receiver, and an external stimulator having a power source, controlling circuitry, and predetermined programs. The stimulator further includes a primary coil which inductively transfers electrical signals to the lead-receiver, which is also in electric contact with the sacral nerves. The external stimulator emits electrical pulses to stimulate the sacral plexus according to a predetermined program. In a second mode of operation, an operator may manually override the predetermined sequence of stimulation.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus and method for neuromodulation therapy for urinary incontinence and urological disorders comprises an implantable lead-receiver, and an external stimulator having a power source, controlling circuitry, and predetermined programs. The stimulator further includes a primary coil which indu

An apparatus and method for neuromodulation therapy for urinary incontinence and urological disorders comprises an implantable lead-receiver, and an external stimulator having a power source, controlling circuitry, and predetermined programs. The stimulator further includes a primary coil which inductively transfers electrical signals to the lead-receiver, which is also in electric contact with the sacral nerves. The external stimulator emits electrical pulses to stimulate the sacral plexus according to a predetermined program. In a second mode of operation, an operator may manually override the predetermined sequence of stimulation. and out from the body of the patient on said human readable display (32, 36, 128) together with said image of the patient. 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the step displaying the virtual trajectory (184) includes: developing a multi-planar reformatted image of the patient; and, displaying a planar image of the patient coincident with said virtual trajectory (184). 9. The method according to claim 7 further including the step of displaying a virtual prescription dose profile (192) surrounding the selected virtual target point (182) in said image of the patient. 10. The method according to claim 7 further including the steps of: storing, in a memory of said imaging device, said first set of virtual coordinates corresponding to said selected virtual target point in said image of the patient; and, storing, in said memory, information corresponding to said selected virtual trajectory. 11. The method according to claim 10 further including the steps of: selecting a plurality of virtual target points in said image of the patient by identifying a plurality of sets of virtual coordinates in said image of the patient; and, selecting a plurality of virtual trajectories for inserting objects into said patient by identifying a corresponding plurality of virtual paths extending from said plurality of virtual target points and out from the body of the patient. 12. The method according to claim 11 further including the step of displaying a plurality of virtual prescription dose profiles surrounding said plurality of selected virtual target points in said image of the patient. 13. A method for use with an imaging apparatus for minimally invasive placement of objects within a patient, the method comprising the steps of: providing visualization information of the patient on a human readable display associated with said imaging apparatus, the visualization information showing at least one interventional therapy object placement target point within said patient, and at least one planning therapy trajectory extending through the patient from the object placement target point; providing an interventional therapy tool carried on a localizing device of the imaging apparatus; displaying the interventional therapy tool on said human readable display as a virtual tool image together with said visualization information of said patient; manually moving the localizing device relative to the patient to align the virtual tool image with said planning therapy trajectory; and, after the virtual tool image is aligned with said planning therapy trajectory, locking the localizing device in place so that an interventional therapy object can be translated along said planning therapy trajectory to a desired depth for precise placement of said interventional therapy object at said object placement target point within said patient. 14. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of providing said visualization information includes: providing at least one axial planar image slice of the patient showing said object placement target point within the patient; and, providing at least one multi-planar reformatted image view of the patient oblique to said axial planar image slice, the at least one multi-planar reformatted image view containing said at least one planning therapy trajectory. 15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the step of displaying said interventional therapy tool on said human readable display as a virtual tool image includes overlaying the virtual tool image on said visualization information of the patient on said human readable display. 16. The method according to claim 15 wherein: the step of displaying said virtual tool image includes displaying said virtual tool image on said human readable display in a manner to visually distinguish the virtual tool image from said visualization information of the patient. 17. The method according to claim 13 further including the steps of: providing a