Method of treating depression, mood disorders and anxiety disorders using neuromodulation

• US 20050027284A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lozano, Andres M., Mayberg, Helen S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36096 Mood disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety or panic disorder
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/24 Antidepressants

Abstract

The present invention involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation and/or chemical stimulation to treat depression. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead and/or catheter that is in communication with a predetermined site which is coupled to a signal generator and/or infusion pump that release either an electrical signal and/or a pharmaceutical resulting in stimulation of the predetermined site thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety.

Claims

1. A method of treating a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting a device in communication with a subcallosal area; and

operating the device to stimulate the subcallosal area thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an electrode assembly and/or a pharmaceutical delivery assembly.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation is electrical.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation is chemical.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation is magnetic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein stimulation of the subcallosal area results in modulation of neuronal activity in a subgenual cingulate area.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein stimulation of the subcallosal area results in modulation of neuronal activity in the areas selected from the group consisting of Brodmann area 25, Brodmann area 24, Brodmann area 10, and Brodmann area 9.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mood disorder is selected from the group consisting of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and dysthymic disorder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mood disorder is major depressive disorder.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anxiety disorder is selected from the group consisting of panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobic disorder.

11. A method of modulating neuronal activity in a subcallosal area in a subject that is suspected of having a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting a device in communication with the subcallosal area; and

operating the device to stimulate the subcallosal area thereby modulating neuronal activity in the subject.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein neuronal modulation of the subcallosal area enhances the subject'"'"'s mood.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein neuronal modulation of the subcallosal area treats the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

14. A method of treating a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, wherein after implantation the stimulation portion is in communication with a subcallosal area;

coupling the proximal end of the lead to a signal generator; and

generating an electrical signal with the signal generator wherein said signal electrically stimulates the subcallosal area thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting a catheter having a proximal end coupled to a pump and a discharge portion for infusing a dosage of a pharmaceutical, wherein after implantation the discharge portion of the catheter is in communication with the subcallosal area; and

operating the pump to discharge the pharmaceutical through the discharge portion of the catheter into the subcallosal area thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

16. A method of treating a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, wherein after implantation the stimulation portion is in communication with Brodmann area 25;

coupling the proximal end of the lead to a signal generator; and

generating an electrical signal with the signal generator wherein said signal electrically stimulates Brodmann area 25 thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein electrical stimulation of Brodmann area 25 results in modulation of neuronal activity in Brodmann area 25.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein electrical stimulation of Brodmann area 25 results in modulation of neuronal activity in Brodmann area 9.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein electrical stimulation of Brodmann area 25 results in modulation of neuronal activity in Brodmann area 24.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the mood disorder is selected from the group consisting of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and dysthymic disorder.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the mood disorder is major depressive disorder.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the anxiety disorder is selected from the group consisting of panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobic disorder.

23. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting a catheter having a proximal end coupled to a pump and a discharge portion for infusing a dosage of a pharmaceutical, wherein after implantation the discharge portion of the catheter is in communication with Brodmann 25; and

operating the pump to discharge the pharmaceutical through the discharge portion of the catheter into Brodmann area 25 thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the pharmaceutical is selected from the group consisting of an inhibitory neurotransmitter agonist, an excitatory neurotransmitter antagonist, an agent that increases the level of an inhibitory neurotransmitter, an agent that decrease the level of an excitatory neurotransmitter, and a local anesthetic agent.

25. A method of treating a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, wherein after implantation the stimulation portion is in communication with a subgenual cingulate area;

coupling the proximal end of the lead to a signal generator; and

generating an electrical signal with the signal generator wherein said signal electrically stimulates the subgenual cingulate area thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein electrical stimulation of the subgenual cingulate area results in a modulation of neuronal activity in Brodmann area 25, Brodmann area 24, Brodmann area 10 or Brodmann area 9.

27. A method of treating a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, wherein after implantation the stimulation portion is in communication with a subcallosal area;

surgically implanting a catheter having a proximal end coupled to a pump and a discharge portion for infusing a dosage of a pharmaceutical, wherein after implantation the discharge portion of the catheter is in communication with the subcallosal area; and

coupling the proximal end of the lead to a signal generator;

generating an electrical signal with the signal generator wherein said signal electrically stimulates the subcallosal area; and

operating the pump to discharge the pharmaceutical through the discharge portion of the catheter into the subcallosal area thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.

28. A method of treating a mood and/or anxiety disorder comprising the steps of:

surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, wherein after implantation the stimulation portion is in communication with Brodmann 25;

surgically implanting a catheter having a proximal end coupled to a pump and a discharge portion for infusing a dosage of a pharmaceutical, wherein after implantation the discharge portion of the catheter is in communication with Brodmann area 25; and

coupling the proximal end of the lead to a signal generator;

generating an electrical signal with the signal generator wherein said signal electrically stimulates Brodmann area 25; and

operating the pump to discharge the pharmaceutical through the discharge portion of the catheter into Brodmann area 25 thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety disorder.