Apparatus and method for modulating neurochemical levels in the brain

• US 20060195157A1
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dartmouth College, University of Memphis
• Original Assignee: Dartmouth College, University of Memphis
• Inventors: Blaha, Charles D., Lee, Kendall H.
• Application Number:
  US11/243,565
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for modulating or regulating levels of a neurochemical in an individual using deep brain stimulation. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of treating neurological and psychiatric diseases by providing a feedback loop capable of maintaining central and/or peripheral nervous system neurochemical levels in an individual.

Claims

1. A method for modulating the levels of a neurochemical in the brain of an individual comprising:

(a) determining an amount of a neurochemical in a first brain region;

(b) determining whether said amount of said neurochemical is different from a predetermined amount; and

(c) if said amount of said neurochemical is different from said predetermined amount, applying electrical stimulation to a second brain region of said individual.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second brain regions are different regions of the brain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and second brain regions are the same brain region.

4. A method for modulating levels of a neurochemical in the brain of an individual comprising:

(a) providing a stimulation system comprising a neurochemical sensor, a control module, and a stimulation module under the control of said control module;

(b) placing said neurochemical sensor in a first brain region of said individual;

(c) placing an electrode operably connected to said stimulation module in a second brain region of an individual comprising neural tissue;

(d) determining the amount of said neurochemical in said first brain region using said sensor, and sending a signal indicative thereof to said control module;

(e) said control module performing the step of determining if the amount of said neurochemical is different from a predetermined amount, wherein if the amount of said neurochemical is different from said predetermined amount, sending a signal to said stimulation module;

(f) said stimulation module sending electrical stimulation to said electrode in said second brain region, whereby the levels of said neurochemical are modulated or regulated.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein steps (d) through (f) are repeated until said amount of said neurochemical in said first brain region of said individual is equal to said predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said first brain region is the caudate-putamen.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said second brain region is the subthalamic nucleus.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first brain region is a terminal targets of the nigrostriatal tract.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said neurochemical is selected from the group consisting of dopamine, acetylecholine, glutamate, norepinephrine, epinephrine, serotonin, L-DOPA, and DOPAC.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein said second brain region is the medial forebrain bundle.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein said sensor is an electrochemical sensor.

14. The method of claim 4, wherein said sensor and said electrode are both present on a single probe.

10. The method of claim 10, wherein said neurochemical is dopamine.

13. The method of claim 13, wherein said electrochemical sensor is a carbon-based electrode.

15. A method for treating Parkinson'"'"'s disease comprising:

(a) providing a stimulation system comprising a sensor, a control module, and a stimulation module under the control of said control module;

(b) placing an electrode operably connected to said stimulation module in the subthalamic nucleus or medial forebrain bundle of an individual having Parkinson'"'"'s disease;

(c) placing said sensor in the caudate-putamen of said individual;

(d) determining an amount of dopamine in the caudate-putamen of said individual using said sensor and sending a signal indicative thereof to said control module;

(e) said control module performing the step of determining if said amount of dopamine is different from a predetermined amount, wherein if said amount of dopamine is different from said predetermined amount, sending a signal to said stimulation module; and

(f) said stimulation module sending electrical stimulation to said electrode, whereby Parkinson'"'"'s disease is treated.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of determining the amount of dopamine in the caudate-putamen is performed by constant potential amperometry.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensor is an electrochemical sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein steps (d) through (f) are repeated until said amount of dopamine in the caudate-putamen of said individual is equal to said desired amount.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said electrode is placed in the subthalamic nucleus.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said electrode is placed in the nigrostriatal tract.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said electrode is placed in the medial forebrain bundle.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said sensor and said electrode are present on a single probe.

23. A method for positioning a stimulation electrode in the brain of an individual comprising:

(a) providing a stimulation system comprising a sensor, a control module, and a stimulation module under the control of said control module;

(b) placing said sensor in a first brain region of said individual;

(c) placing a stimulation electrode operably connected to said stimulation module in a second brain region of an individual comprising neural tissue;

(d) applying an electrical stimulation signal to said stimulation electrode;

(e) determining the amount of a neurochemical in said first brain region using said sensor, and sending a signal indicative thereof to said control module;

(f) said control module performing the step of determining if the amount of said neurochemical reaches a predetermined amount;

wherein if the amount of said neurochemical does not reach said predetermined amount, the placement of said stimulation electrode is changed and steps (d)-(f) are repeated until a placement of the stimulation electrode is achieved in which said electrical stimulation results in an amount of said neurochemical which reaches said predetermined amount.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said sensor and said stimulation electrode are both present on a single probe.

25. A deep brain stimulator comprising:

a sensor;

a control module operably connected to said sensor, wherein said control module is adapted to measure an electrochemical signal detected by said sensor;

a stimulation module operably connected to said control module; and

a stimulating electrode operably connected to said stimulation module;

wherein said control module is adapted to determine the amount of a neurochemical in a brain region of an individual, wherein if the amount of said neurochemical differs from a predetermined amount, said control module being further adapted to send a signal to said stimulator to generate electrical stimulation.

26. The deep brain stimulator of claim 25, wherein said sensor and said stimulating electrode are both present on a single probe.