| abstract |
A catheter (10) intended to be implanted in the epidural space of a patient for relief of pain, either temporarily or permanently, includes four circumferential ring electrodes (14) connected to terminals (28) by fine wires (16) embedded in the sidewall (15) of the catheter for attachment to a conventional electric pulse generator (19) and a hollow elongated body (12) having a lumen (17) therethrough with an injection portal (26) at the proximal end and an aperture (30) at the distal end for continuously administering a pain-relieving agent in a liquid form. The agent may be a narcotic or anesthesia. In the permanently implantable embodiment, the catheter includes an implantable pulse generator (33) and an implantable drug reservoir (32), both of which can be repeatedly programmed while implanted. Methods for treating pain using the catheter include electrical stimulation, the use of narcotics, or anesthesia, which can be administered in any order, or simultaneously as empirically determined to provide the best pain relief for each patient. |