NEURAL BLOCKING THERAPY

• US 20080154333A1
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flathead Partners, LLC, Venturi Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Venturi Group, LLC
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Conrad, Timothy R., Donders, Adrianus P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a variety of conditions include treating a disorder associated with neural activity near a region of a brain. In such condition, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near said region, creating said field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within said field. For treating a tissue sensation, the method includes identifying a target area of tissue to be treated and placing an electrode to create a field near the target area, and creating the field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within the target area. For treating a condition associated with neural activity of a spinal cord, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near a nerve associated with the spinal cord, and creating the field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within the nerve.

Claims

1. A method of treating a disorder associated with neural activity near a region of a brain, said method comprising:

placing an electrode beneath a skull of said patient to create a field near said region; and

creating said field with parameters selected to down-regulate neural activity to form an at least partial block of neural activity within said field, the parameters including a frequency of at least about 3,000 Hz.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising placing said electrode so as to enable said field to at least partially block neural activity within at least a portion of a cortex of said brain.

3. A method according to claim 1 comprising placing said electrode within a ventricle of said brain with said electrode positioned to block neural activity of a portion of said brain associated with hormone production.

4. An apparatus for treating a disorder associated with neural activity near a region of a brain, said apparatus comprising:

a electrode for creating a field near said region, said electrode adapted to be placed beneath a skull of said patient near said region; and

a controller for creating said field at said electrode with parameters selected to down-regulate neural activity to form an at least partial block within said field, the parameters including a frequency of at least about 3,000 Hz.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said electrode is sized to be placed so as to enable said field to at least partially block neural activity within at least a portion of a cortex of said brain.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said electrode is sized to be placed within a ventricle of said brain with said electrode positioned to block neural activity of a portion of said brain associated with hormone production.