Methods and systems for stimulating a trigeminal nerve to treat a psychiatric disorder

• US 20060064140A1
• Filed: 10/07/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Jaax, Kristen N., Whitehurst, Todd K.
• Application Number:
  US11/246,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064140A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Methods of treating a patient with a psychiatric disorder include applying at least one stimulus to a trigeminal nerve within the patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. Systems for treating a patient with a psychiatric disorder include a system control unit that is implanted within the patient and that is configured to apply at least one stimulus to a trigeminal nerve within the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient with a psychiatric disorder, said method comprising:

applying at least one stimulus to a trigeminal nerve within said patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters;

wherein said stimulus is configured to treat said psychiatric disorder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said trigeminal nerve comprises at least one or more of a trigeminal ganglion and a branch of said trigeminal nerve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit is leadless.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises one or more drugs delivered to said trigeminal nerve.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said trigeminal nerve and a stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said trigeminal nerve.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one indicator related to said psychiatric disorder and using said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said psychiatric disorder includes at least one or more of a major depression, a dysthymic disorder, a bipolar disorder, a cyclothymic disorder, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, a panic disorder, a phobic disorder, a post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, a schizoaffective disorder, a personality disorder, a delusional disorder, autism, mental retardation, an attention deficit disorder, tourette'"'"'s disorder, a mood disorder, an anxiety disorder, and a psychotic disorder.

9. A system for treating a patient with a psychiatric disorder, said system comprising:

a system control unit configured to apply at least one stimulus to a trigeminal nerve within said patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters, said stimulus configured to treat said psychiatric disorder;

wherein said system control unit is implanted within said patient.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said trigeminal nerve comprises at least one or more of a trigeminal ganglion and a branch of said trigeminal nerve.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said system control unit is leadless.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein said stimulus comprises stimulation via one or more drugs delivered to said trigeminal nerve.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said trigeminal nerve and one or more drugs delivered to said trigeminal nerve.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a sensor device for sensing at least one indicator related to said psychiatric disorder;

wherein said system control unit uses said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein said system control unit has dimensions substantially equal to or less than three cubic centimeters.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein said system control unit comprises a microstimulator.

18. The system of claim 9, wherein said psychiatric disorder includes at least one or more of a major depression, a dysthymic disorder, a bipolar disorder, a cyclothymic disorder, an obsessive-compulsive disorder, a panic disorder, a phobic disorder, a post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, a schizoaffective disorder, a personality disorder, a delusional disorder, autism, mental retardation, an attention deficit disorder, tourette'"'"'s disorder, a mood disorder, an anxiety disorder, and a psychotic disorder.

19. A system for treating a patient with a psychiatric disorder, said system comprising:

means for applying at least one stimulus to a trigeminal nerve within said patient with an implanted system control unit in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters;

wherein said stimulus is configured to treat said psychiatric disorder.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said system control unit is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.