Electrode configurations for reducing invasiveness and/or enhancing neural stimulation efficacy, and associated methods
First Claim
1. A method for treating a brain disorder, comprising:
- identifying a target neural structure within a patient'"'"'s skull;
implanting an electrode device within the patient'"'"'s skull so that an axis that is generally normal to the skull proximate to the electrode device and that passes through at least one electrical contact of the electrode device is offset from the target neural structure; and
stimulating the target neural structure by applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electrode configurations for reducing invasiveness and/or enhancing neural stimulation efficacy, and associated methods, are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for treating a brain disorder includes identifying a target neural structure within a patient'"'"'s skull and implanting an electrode device within the patient'"'"'s skull so that an axis that is generally normal to the skull proximate to the electrode device and that passes through at least one electrical contact of the electrode device is offset from the target neural structure. The method further includes stimulating the target neural structure by applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact. In particular embodiments, the electrode device can be positioned between, along, across, or adjacent to a fissure, recess, groove, and/or vascular structure of the patient'"'"'s brain.
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Citations
81 Claims
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1. A method for treating a brain disorder, comprising:
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identifying a target neural structure within a patient'"'"'s skull;
implanting an electrode device within the patient'"'"'s skull so that an axis that is generally normal to the skull proximate to the electrode device and that passes through at least one electrical contact of the electrode device is offset from the target neural structure; and
stimulating the target neural structure by applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for treating tinnitus, comprising:
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identifying a target auditory neural population projecting into the Sylvian fissure of a patient'"'"'s brain;
implanting an electrode device within the patient'"'"'s skull proximate to the Sylvian fissure so that an axis that is generally normal to the skull and passes through at least one electrical contact of the electrode device is offset from the target auditory neural population; and
stimulating the target auditory neural population by applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method for treating a brain disorder, comprising:
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implanting an electrode device within a patient'"'"'s skull so that at least one electrical contact of the device is positioned at least 0.5 mm from the superior sagittal sinus; and
stimulating a neural structure located directly inferior to the superior sagittal sinus by applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for treating a brain disorder, comprising:
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implanting an electrode assembly within a patient'"'"'s skull so that at least one electrical contact of the assembly is positioned at least 0.5 mm from the nearest major blood vessel, sinus, vascular trunk or vascular branch; and
applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for treating a brain disorder, comprising:
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determining an electrical stimulation site in a patient'"'"'s brain;
determining a location of vasculature located within the patient'"'"'s brain proximate to the electrical stimulation site;
selecting an implantation site for an electrode device to limit the amount of electrical current directed from the electrode device to the vasculature;
implanting the electrode device at the stimulation site; and
applying an electrical signal to at least one electrical contact of the electrode device. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for treating a brain disorder, comprising:
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implanting at least one electrode device within a patient'"'"'s skull so that at least one electrical contact of the electrode device is positioned at least proximate to a neuronal cell that is elongated generally along an axis that is generally not perpendicular to the skull proximate to the neuronal cell; and
applying an electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact along electrical field lines that are generally aligned with the axis. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A method for treating tinnitus, comprising:
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identifying a target auditory neural population of a patient'"'"'s brain;
implanting an electrode device within the patient'"'"'s skull, with at least one electrical contact of the electrode device at least proximate to the target auditory neural population; and
stimulating the target auditory neural population by applying a unipolar electrical signal to the at least one electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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Specification