Low Frequency Neurostimulator for the Treatment of Neurological Disorders

• US 20090318747A1
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aruene Corporation
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Fischell, David R., Upton, Adrian R.M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for treating neurological conditions by low-frequency time varying electrical stimulation includes an electrical device for applying such low-frequency energy, in a range below approximately 10 Hz, to the patient'"'"'s brain tissue. An implantable embodiment applies direct electrical stimulation to electrodes implanted in or on the patient'"'"'s brain, while a non-invasive embodiment causes a magnetic field to induce electrical currents in the patient'"'"'s brain.

Claims

1. A magnetic depolarizer adapted to be portable and placed on the head of a patient comprising:

at least one magnetic coil;

control circuitry in operable communication with a power source and the at least one magnetic coil, the control circuitry configured to cause the at least one magnetic coil to deliver a single magnetic pulse to the patient as a form of treatment for a neurological disorder when a power is supplied to the control circuitry from the power source.

2. The magnetic depolarizer system of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to preset the duration of the single magnetic pulse.

3. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to present the duration of the single magnetic pulse to a duration in the range between about 10 microseconds and 1,000 microseconds.

4. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field produced by the single magnetic pulse has an intensity of 0.1 to 10 Tesla at a surface of the patient'"'"'s brain.

5. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 further including the power source.

6. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 5 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

12. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to preset the duration of each of the at least two magnetic pulses.

13. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to present the duration of the single magnetic pulse to a duration in the range between about 10 microseconds and 1,000 microseconds.

14. The magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 wherein the magnetic field produced by the single magnetic pulse has an intensity of 0.1 to 10 Tesla at a surface of the patient'"'"'s brain.

7. A medical device for delivering transcranial magnetic stimulation to a human patient for treatment of a neurological condition or disorder comprising:

at least one magnetic coil;

control circuitry in operable communication with a power source and the at least one magnetic coil, the control circuitry configured to cause the at least one magnetic coil to deliver a single magnetic pulse to the patient as a form of treatment for a neurological disorder when power supplied to the control circuitry from the power source; and

a positioning element in which the at least one magnetic coil and the control circuitry may be disposed and configured to be situated on or adjacent the head of the patient.

8. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to preset the duration of the single magnetic pulse.

9. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to present the duration of the single magnetic pulse to a duration in the range between about 10 microseconds and 1,000 microseconds.

10. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the magnetic field produced by the single magnetic pulse has an intensity of 0.1 to 10 Tesla at a surface of the patient'"'"'s brain.

11. A magnetic depolarizer adapted to be portable and placed on the head of a patient comprising:

at least one magnetic coil;

control circuitry in operable communication with a power source and the at least one magnetic coil, the control circuitry configured to cause the at least one magnetic coil to deliver at least two magnetic pulses in sequence to the patient as a form of treatment for a neurological disorder when power is supplied to the control circuitry from the power source, the frequency of the at least two magnetic pulses being less than 10 Hz.

15. A readily portable magnetic depolarizer adapted to be positioned on the head of a patient comprising:

at least one magnetic coil;

control circuitry in operable communication with the at least one magnetic coil, the control circuitry configured to generate a high-intensity magnetic field in the at least one magnetic coil for a duration of about 10 microseconds and 1000 microseconds.

16. The readily portable magnetic depolarizer of claim 15 wherein the intensity of the magnetic field corresponding to the generated high-intensity magnetic field is between about 0.1 and 10 Tesla at a surface of the patient'"'"'s brain.

17. The readily portable magnetic depolarizer of claim 15 wherein the generated high-intensity magnetic field is repeated at a rate of less than 10 Hz.

18. A method of delivering magnetic stimulation to the brain of a patient transcranially comprising:

configuring control circuitry associated with at least one magnetic coil to cause the at least one magnetic coil to generate a high-intensity magnetic field that corresponds to a pulse of a duration of between about 10 microseconds and 1000 microseconds and an intensity of between about

using at least one magnetic coil to deliver at least one pulse corresponding to a high-intensity magnetic field when control circuitry associated with the at least one magnetic coil causes the high-intensity magnetic field to be generated.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the control circuitry further is configured to generate a plurality of high-intensity magnetic fields corresponding to pulses delivered at a rate of less 10 Hz.