Low frequency magnetic neurostimulator for the treatment of neurological disorders

• US 20030028072A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Fischell, David R., Upton, Adrian R. M.
• Application Number:
  US10/245,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028072A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for treating neurological conditions by low-frequency time varying electrical stimulation includes an electrical device for applying such low-frequency energy, in a range below approximately 10 Hz, to the patient'"'"'s brain tissue. An implantable embodiment applies direct electrical stimulation to electrodes implanted in or on the patient'"'"'s brain, while a non-invasive embodiment causes a magnetic field to induce electrical currents in the patient'"'"'s brain.

Claims

1. A magnetic depolarizer system for the treatment of a neurological disorder, the system comprising:

a readily portable magnetic depolarizer adapted for placement at a specific location onto the head of a patient who is subjected to neurological events, the magnetic depolarizer having a least one electromagnetic coil that is capable of providing a time varying magnetic field pulsed on and off at a rate between approximately 0.1 and 10 Hz, the magnetic field having a peak intensity at some portion of the patient'"'"'s brain of at least 0.1 Tesla;

electrical circuitry connected to the magnetic depolarizer for providing an electrical current through the at least one electromagnetic coil, the electrical circuitry including at least one operating parameter that is preset by a physician; and

,

a positioner for placing the magnetic depolarizer system onto a specific region of the head of the patient.

2. The magnetic depolarizer system of claim 1, wherein the operating parameter comprises a frequency of application for the time varying magnetic field.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the magnetic depolarizer utilizes two coils, in a race-track, figure-eight configuration.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry is adapted to deliver at least one time varying magnetic pulse.

5. A magnetic depolarizer system for the treatment of a neurological disorder, the system comprising:

a readily portable magnetic depolarizer adapted for placement at a specific location onto the head of a patient who is subjected to neurological events, the magnetic depolarizer having a least one electromagnetic coil that is capable of providing a time varying magnetic field having a stimulation frequency between approximately 0.1 and 10 Hz, the magnetic field having a peak intensity at some portion of the patient'"'"'s brain of at least 0.1 Tesla;

electrical circuitry connected to the magnetic depolarizer for providing an electrical current through the at least one electromagnetic coil, the electrical circuitry including at least one operating parameter that is preset by a physician; and

,

a positioner for placing the magnetic depolarizer system onto a specific region of the head of the patient.

6. The magnetic depolarizer system of claim 5, wherein the time varying magnetic field has a carrier frequency of at least 100 Hz.

7. The magnetic depolarizer system of claim 5, wherein the time varying magnetic field has a substantially sinusoidal waveform.

8. A method for treating a neurological disorder in a patient with a readily portable magnetic depolarizer, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a neurological event related to the neurological disorder;

activating the magnetic depolarizer; and

generating a time-varying magnetic field having a peak intensity at some portion of the patient'"'"'s cerebral cortex of at least approximately 0.1 Tesla and a frequency of between approximately 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz.