US Patent 7761166 Electrical stimulation of iliohypogastric nerve to alleviate chronic pelvic pain

A method and system for applying electrical stimulation to an iliohypogastric nerve of a patient. The system includes electrical stimulators that apply electrical stimulation for alleviation of pelvic pain. The system may apply electrical stimulation for pelvic pain in men or women. The electrical stimulators may comprise various types of electrodes such as cuff electrodes, electrode leads, and microstimulators implanted at various locations proximate to a single or both iliohypogastric nerves of a patient. In particular, the electrode may be implanted proximate or adjacent to an anterior cutaneous branch of one or both iliohypogastric nerves, a lateral cutaneous branch of one or both iliohypogastric nerves, or one or both of iliohypogastric nerves above the branch point.