System and method of treating stuttering by neuromodulation
First Claim
9. A method of therapeutically treating stuttering via an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to an implantable pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of at least one drug, as well as a signal generator and at least one implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the method comprising:
- implanting the at least one electrode adjacent to a first predetermined site in the brain;
implanting the catheter so that the discharge portion lies adjacent to a second predetermined site in the brain;
coupling the proximal end of the implanted electrode to the signal generator;
coupling the catheter to the pump; and
operating the signal generator and the pump to stimulate or inhibit neurons of the first and second predetermined sites in the brain by delivering electrical stimulation to the first predetermined site and by delivering at least one drug to the second predetermined site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Stuttering-treatment techniques using neural stimulation and/or drug delivery. One or more electrodes and/or a catheter are implanted adjacent to sites in the brain. A signal generator and the electrode deliver stimulation to a first site. A pump and the catheter deliver one or more therapeutic drugs to a second site. The first and second sites could be: the supplementary motor area, the centromedian circuit, the dorsomedial nuclei, the lateral prefrontal circuit, or other paramedian thalamic and midbrain nuclei. The stuttering treatment could be performed via periodic transcranial magnetic stimulation. A sensor, located near the patient'"'"'s vocal folds, can be used for generating a signal responsive to activity of the patient'"'"'s speech-producing muscles. A controller adjusts one or more stimulation parameters in response to the signal from the sensor.
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Citations
23 Claims
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9. A method of therapeutically treating stuttering via an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to an implantable pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of at least one drug, as well as a signal generator and at least one implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the method comprising:
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implanting the at least one electrode adjacent to a first predetermined site in the brain;
implanting the catheter so that the discharge portion lies adjacent to a second predetermined site in the brain;
coupling the proximal end of the implanted electrode to the signal generator;
coupling the catheter to the pump; and
operating the signal generator and the pump to stimulate or inhibit neurons of the first and second predetermined sites in the brain by delivering electrical stimulation to the first predetermined site and by delivering at least one drug to the second predetermined site. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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15-1. The method of claim 9 further comprising detecting when the patient starts speaking;
the step of operating the signal generator and the pump to stimulate or inhibit neurons of the first and second predetermined sites in the brain by delivering electrical stimulation to the first predetermined site and by delivering at least one drug to the second predetermined site including starting the electrical stimulation in response to detecting that the patient has started to speak.
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17. A method of therapeutically treating stuttering via a signal generator and at least one implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the method comprising:
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implanting at least one electrode adjacent to at least one predetermined site in the brain;
coupling the proximal end of the implanted electrode to the signal generator;
operating the signal generator to stimulate or inhibit neurons of the at least one predetermined site in the brain via electrical stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification