Responsive therapy for psychiatric disorders

• US 20060058856A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Morrell, Martha
• Granted Patent: US 7,353,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

An implantable neurostimulator system for treating psychiatric disorders includes scheduled and responsive therapy capabilities including responsive stimulation applied to the cingulate gyrus of the brain. Methods for treating depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, schizophrenia, and autism and other developmental disorders employ an inventive system to advantageously reduce symptoms and address underlying causes of the disorders.

Claims

1. An implantable apparatus for treating a psychiatric disorder in a human patient by selectively applying therapy, the apparatus comprising:

a therapy subsystem coupled to at least one therapy output, wherein the stimulation subsystem is operative to selectively initiate delivery of a therapy to the therapy output.

a detection subsystem coupled to at least one sensor, wherein the detection subsystem is operative to receive and process a detected signal generated by the sensor; and

a processor operative to identify a detected event in the detected signal and to cause the therapy subsystem to initiate application of the therapy in response thereto.

2. The system for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 1, wherein the psychiatric disorder is depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, schizophrenia, autism, or a developmental disorder.

3. The system for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 1, wherein the detected signal is characteristic of the psychiatric disorder.

4. The system for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 1, wherein the detected signal is characteristic of a symptom of the psychiatric disorder.

5. The system for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode situated at the cingulate gyrus of the patient'"'"'s brain.

6. The system for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 1, wherein the therapy output comprises an electrode situated at the cingulate gyrus of the patient'"'"'s brain and wherein the therapy comprises electrical stimulation.

7. A method for treating a psychiatric disorder with an implantable apparatus in a human patient, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a detected signal from a sensor;

identifying a detected event in the detected signal, wherein the detected signal is characteristic of the psychiatric disorder or a symptom of the psychiatric disorder; and

in response to the detected event, causing a therapy subsystem to initiate application of a therapy at a therapy output.

8. The method for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 7, wherein the psychiatric disorder is depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, schizophrenia, autism, or a developmental disorder.

9. The method for treating a psychiatric disorder of claim 7, wherein the therapy output is situated at the cingulate gyrus of the patient'"'"'s brain.