SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACIAL NERVE STIMULATION

• US 20100114240A1
• Filed: 10/21/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Original Assignee: Med El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
• Inventors: Guntinas-Lichius, Orlando, Lindenthaler, Werner, Müller, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,792,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/395 Details of stimulation, e.g. nerve stimulation to elicit EMG response
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36185 Selection of the electrode configuration

Abstract

A method for stimulating facial nerves in a subject with synkinetic reinnervated muscles includes providing an electrode, having a plurality of contacts, in a parotic region of the subject'"'"'s face, stimulating each of the contacts separately, identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches. The system includes an electrode having a plurality of contacts for placement in a parotic region of the subject'"'"'s face and a processor in communication with the electrode. The processor has program code for stimulating each of the contacts separately, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and for selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating facial nerves in a subject with synkinetic reinnervated muscles, the method comprising:

providing an electrode in a parotic region of the subject'"'"'s face, the electrode having a plurality of contacts;

stimulating each of the plurality of contacts separately;

identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle; and

selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is an array electrode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrode is a rod electrode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the facial muscle includes at least one of a orbicularis oculi muscle, a orbicularis oris muscle, a occipitofrontalis muscle, a procerus muscle, a nasalis muscle, a depressor septi nasi muscle, a corrugator supercilii muscle, a depressor supercilii muscle, a auricular muscle, a depressor anguli oris muscle, a risorius muscle, a zygomaticus major muscle, a zygomaticus minor muscle, a levator labii superioris muscle, a levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscle, a depressor labii inferioris muscle, a levator anguli oris muscle, a buccinator muscle, and a mentalis muscle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the electrode includes implanting the electrode within an operable distance of the one or more nerve branches.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one or more contacts to stimulate nerve branches in order to block activation of other facial muscles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein stimulation of the one or more nerve branches is triggered based on a sensed signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed signal is recorded from a recording electrode in the parotic region of the subject'"'"'s damaged side of the face, the recording electrode having a plurality of contacts.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed signal is recorded from a recording electrode in the parotic region of the subject'"'"'s healthy side of the face, the recording electrode having a plurality of contacts.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sensed signal is recorded from sensors placed on or under the subject'"'"'s skin.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying one or more contacts includes one or more first contacts that cause the activation of a first facial muscle and one or more second contacts that cause the activation of a second facial muscle;

and

selecting the identified contacts includes selecting the identified first and second contacts.

12. A system for stimulating facial nerves in a subject comprising:

an electrode having a plurality of contacts for placement in a parotic region of the subject'"'"'s face; and

a processor in communication with the electrode, the processor having program code for stimulating each of the plurality of contacts separately, for identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle, and for selecting the identified contacts to stimulate the one or more nerve branches.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the electrode is an array electrode.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the electrode is a rod electrode.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising one or more sensors in communication with the processor, the sensors configured to provide facial movement information to the processor for use with the program code for identifying one or more contacts.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensors may be EMG sensors and/or acceleration sensors.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the program code for selecting the identified contacts continuously stimulates the one or more nerve branches to maintain or recover a damaged side of a hemiparalyzed face.

18. A method of stimulating facial nerves in a subject with facial palsy, the method comprising:

providing an electrode in a parotic region of the subject'"'"'s face, the electrode having a plurality of contacts;

stimulating each of the plurality of contacts separately;

identifying one or more contacts from the plurality of contacts that cause one or more nerve branches to activate a desired facial muscle; and

selecting the identified contacts to continuously stimulate the one or more nerve branches.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode is an array electrode.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode is a rod electrode.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein providing the electrode includes implanting the electrode within an operable distance of the one or more nerve branches.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein stimulation of the one or more nerve branches is triggered based on a sensed signal.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the sensed signal is recorded from sensors placed on or under the subject'"'"'s skin.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein identifying one or more contacts includes one or more first contacts that cause the activation of a first facial muscle and one or more second contacts that cause the activation of a second facial muscle;

and

selecting the identified contacts includes selecting the identified first and second contacts.