Responsive Therapy for Psychiatric Disorders

• US 20080125831A1
• Filed: 02/08/2008
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Morrell, Martha
• Application Number:
  US12/028,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• 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

A medical device is capable of delivering a form of stimulation (e.g., electrical stimulation) to a region of the cingulate cortex of the human brain to treat a neurological event, condition or disorder, especially an event, condition, or disorder that is psychiatric in nature, such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, schizophrenia, and autism and other developmental disorders. The device additionally or alternatively may be capable of detecting a biological marker or changes in a biological marker corresponding to the neurological event, condition or disorder. Methods of using the device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for modulating the cingulate cortex of a patient'"'"'s brain comprising:

implanting in the patient'"'"'s body an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes so that the plurality of electrodes are either disposed within or against substantially the entire length of the cingulate cortex;

associating the electrode array with a stimulation source;

delivering stimulation from the stimulation source through at least one of the electrodes in the electrode array.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering stimulation comprises delivering electrical stimulation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering stimulation comprises delivering at least one dose of a drug.

4. The method of claim 1, further including implanting the stimulation source in the patient'"'"'s body.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering the delivery of stimulation with a signal corresponding to a command initiated by the patient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering stimulation comprises causing a temperature change at or in the vicinity of the at least one of the electrodes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

implanting at least one sensor in the patient'"'"'s body;

detecting at least one biological marker with the at least one sensor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the biological marker is a biological marker from the group consisting of electrical activity, concentration of inhibitory or excitatory neurochemicals, concentration of proteins or other gene products, temperature, and metabolic rate.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting the at least one biological marker further comprises monitoring the at least one biological marker over a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein delivering stimulation further comprises delivering stimulation based on predefined changes in the detected and monitored at least one biological marker.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the at least one biological marker over a predetermined period of time further includes continuously monitoring the at least one biological marker.

12. A device for modulating the function of the cingulate cortex of a patient'"'"'s brain comprising:

an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrodes designed for and intended to be deployed so that the electrodes can be used to deliver stimulation to substantially any area of the cingulate cortex;

a stimulation source associated with the electrode array for delivering a form of stimulation through at least one of the electrodes in the electrode array;

a programmable selector circuit for selecting one or more of the electrodes in the electrode array through which stimulation can be delivered.

13. The device of claim 13, further including at least one sensor for detecting at least one biological marker from the patient.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the stimulation source is a signal generator for generating electrical stimulation.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the biological marker is a biological marker from the group consisting of electrical activity, concentration of inhibitory or excitatory neurochemicals, concentration of proteins or other gene products, temperature, and metabolic rate.

14. The device of claim 14, further including a monitoring circuit for monitoring information sensed by the at least one sensor for a programmable period of time.