METHOD TO ENHANCE NEURAL TISSUE OPERATION

• US 20090287035A1
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cerbomed GmbH (tVNS Technologies GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Cerbomed GmbH (tVNS Technologies GmbH)
• Inventors: BECK, Christoph, DIETRICH, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for modulation, augmentation and/or stimulation of neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality with stimulating neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality with stimuli by which neural activity related local perfusion changes, electro-neuro-chemical, biochemical, neural modulative or neuroplastical responses and/or alterations in ‘metabolism supply lines-neural tissue’ interaction processes in vertebrates can be triggered and/or influenced.

Claims

1. Method for modulation, augmentation and/or stimulation of neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality, characterized by stimulating neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality with stimuli by which neural activity related local perfusion changes, electro-neuro-chemical, biochemical, neural modulative or neuroplastical responses and/or alterations in ‘

metabolism supply lines-neural tissue’

interaction processes in vertebrates can be triggered and/or influenced.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimuli are supplied to at least one means of stimulating neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one means of stimulating neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality is positioned in contact with or proximate to said neural tissue or neural tissue related biological structures.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimuli directly or indirectly interact with a proximate axonal nerve system related target.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimuli generate local neurophysiological, neurovascular, neuroendocrine and/or neurobiochemical information.

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimuli trigger effects in the brainstem, subcortical and/or cortical areas

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that by said stimuli the performance of neuronal structures and related pathways in vertebrates is enhanced and/or cognitive and emotional abilities are improved and/or neurological and/or neuropsychiatric disorders and/or symptoms resulting from underlying causes are alleviated and/or healed.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the stimuli are biophysical stimuli, electrical stimuli, electrochemical stimuli, electromagnetical stimuli, neurochemical stimuli, sound, radiation impulses and/or waves, wherein the stimulus amplitude and the stimulus frequency can be modulated.

9. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said means of stimulating neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality is positioned in contact with or proximate to a nerve of a vertebrate, wherein said nerve preferably comprises parasympathetic and/or sympathetic fibers, in particular, the Nervus vagus, the Ramus auricularis Nervi vagi, and/or a trigeminal nerve.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the Ramus auricularis Nervi vagi is stimulated at the pinna and/or the external auditory canal.

11. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that by said stimulation unidirectionally propagating action potentials are generated.

12. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that said parasympathetic nerve fibers comprise afferent and/or efferent fibers.

13. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said means of stimulating neural tissue and/or neural tissue related functionality comprises at least one stimulation electrode.

14. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimulation is achieved by means of implanted neurostimulators, including vagus nerve stimulators, deep brain stimulators or cortical stimulators.

15. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimulation is achieved by minimally invasive stimulators.

16. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said stimulation is achieved by non-invasive neurostimulators, in particular by transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulators or transcranial magnetic stimulators.

17. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that a stimulation pulse comprises at least one of a plateau pulse width of adjustable duration, a rising and decaying trailing phase of adjustable duration and a charge recovery phase of adjustable duration.

18. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that by said stimulation a positive blood oxygenation level-dependent responses in the central nerve system and/or the brain of a vertebrate is achieved, wherein said responses take place in the left Locus coeruleus and/or the pontine tegmentum and/or the thalamus (left>

right) and/or anterior and medial thalamic nuclei and/or the Hippocampus and/or Nucleus paraventricularis and/or the posterior part of the putamen and/or the left prefrontal and/or superior-frontal cortex and/or bilateral postcentral gyrus and/or the left posterior cingulated gyrus and/or the left insula and/or Nucleus accumbens and/or the right cerebellar hemisphere.

19. Use of the method according to claim 1 for the treatment of neurological and/or neuropsychiatric disorder and/or symptoms resulting from underlying cause selected from a group consisting of Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, Tremor, major depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, eating disorders, sleep disorders, pain, tinnitus, cardiovascular disorders, artrial fibrillation, epilepsy, schizophrenia, addictive disorders, dementia, attention deficit disorders, premenstrual syndrome, obesity, spasticity, tourette syndrome, dystonia, neurogenic and psychogenic bladder disorders, neurogenic and psychogenic defecation disorders, neurogenic and psychogenic sexual disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders.

20. Use of the method according to claim 1 for enhancing cognitive and/or emotional abilities.

21. Use of the method according to claim 1 for the enhancement of productivity, attention, learning, concentration, awareness, vigilance, tranquillization, sedation, emotional assessment, valuation, emotional intelligence, decisive abilities, retentiveness and/or conversation.

22. Method of claim 1 for generating blood oxygenation level-dependent responses in higher order relay nuclei of vagal afferent pathways, wherein the method comprises one or more of the following steps:

generating propagating action potentials of the Ramus auricularis Nervi vagi by means of stimulation

configuring said propagating action potentials to pass through the Canaliculus mastoideus

configuring said propagating action potentials to pass the Ganglion rostrale

configuring said propagating action potentials to generate blood oxygenation level-dependent responses in the brainstem

configuring said propagating action potentials to generate blood oxygenation level-dependent responses in the Thalamus.

23. Method according to claim 22, characterized in that said method for generating blood oxygenation level-dependent responses in higher order relay nuclei of vagal afferent pathways comprises means of influencing propagation of said action potentials towards subcortical and cortical brain areas associated with vagal and limbic pathways.