Systems and Methods for Enhancing or Affecting Neural Stimulation Efficiency and/or Efficacy

• US 20090299435A1
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Northstar Neuroscience, Inc.
• Inventors: Wyler, Allen, Fowler, Brad, Sheffield, W. Douglas, Gliner, Bradford Evan, Sloan, Leif R., Kuntz, Richard, Leyde, Kent
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,762 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 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• 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 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/385 for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/901 using storage descriptor, e.g. read or write pointers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and/or method may apply electromagnetic stimulation to a patient'"'"'s nervous system over a first time domain according to a first set of stimulation parameters, and over a second time domain according to a second set of stimulation parameters. The first and second time domains may be sequential, simultaneous, or nested. Stimulation parameters may vary in accordance with one or more types of duty cycle, amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, spatiotemporal, and/or polarity variations. Stimulation may be applied at subthreshold, threshold, and/or suprathreshold levels in one or more periodic, aperiodic (e.g., chaotic), and/or pseudo-random manners. In some embodiments stimulation may comprise a burst pattern having an interburst frequency corresponding to an intrinsic brainwave frequency, and regular and/or varying intraburst stimulation parameters. Stimulation signals providing reduced power consumption with at least adequate symptomatic relief may be applied prior to moderate or significant power source depletion.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. An apparatus for treating a neurological condition of a patient, comprising:

an implantable stimulation device having at least one implantable stimulator configured to be positioned in signal communication with neural tissue of a patient'"'"'s nervous system, the stimulation device being configured to be implanted in the patient;

an implantable signal generator;

a signal communication link operatively coupled between the stimulation device and the signal generator; and

a controller operatively coupled to the signal generator, the controller being configured to provide instructions to the signal generator to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation to the patient in a manner that varies aperiodically.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the signal generator is configured to direct application of electromagnetic stimulation at sub-threshold levels.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the signal generator is configured to direct application of electromagnetic stimulation at least two of the following levels:

sub-threshold, threshold and suprathreshold.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that varies chaotically.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that corresponds to an iterative function.

34. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that corresponds to a partial sum of an infinite series.

35. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that corresponds to a metastable attractor.

36. An apparatus for treating a neurological condition of a patient, comprising:

an implantable stimulation device having at least one implantable stimulator configured to be positioned in signal communication with neural tissue of a patient'"'"'s nervous system, the stimulation device being configured to be implanted in the patient;

an implantable signal generator;

a signal communication link operatively coupled between the stimulation device and the signal generator; and

a controller operatively coupled to the signal generator, the controller being configured to provide instructions to the signal generator to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation to the patient in a manner that varies at least generally similarly to naturally occurring brainwave variations.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the signal generator is configured to direct application of electromagnetic stimulation at sub-threshold levels.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation having a burst frequency and an intra-burst frequency greater than the burst frequency.

39. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation having a burst frequency and an intra-burst frequency greater than the burst frequency, and wherein characteristics of the intra-burst stimulation vary from one burst to another.

40. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring alpha brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of from about 8 Hz to about 13 Hz.

41. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring beta brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of from about 13 Hz to about 30 Hz.

42. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring gamma brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of greater than about 30 Hz.

43. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring delta brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of less than about 4 Hz.

44. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring theta brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of from about 4 Hz to about 8 Hz.