METHOD TO ENHANCE AFFERENT AND EFFERENT TRANSMISSION USING NOISE RESONANCE

• US 20110009919A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, DiGiore, Andrew, Moffitt, Michael, Lane, Courtney, Jaax, Kristen
• Granted Patent: US 9,737,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36164 Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628

Abstract

Methods of providing therapy to a patient are provided. In one method, the patient has a neuron to which a sub-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied. The method comprises applying electrical noise energy to the neuron, wherein resonance between the biological electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy is created, such that an action potential is propagated along the axon of the neuron. In another method, the patient has a neuron to which a supra-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied. This method comprises applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing an action potential from being propagated along the axon of the neuron. Still another method comprises applying an electrical stimulus to a neuron, and applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing or reversing any neurological accommodation of the neuron that may occur in response to the electrical stimulus.

Claims

1. A method of providing therapy to a patient, the patient having a neuron to which a sub-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied, comprising:

applying electrical noise energy to the neuron, wherein resonance between the biological electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy is created, such that an action potential is propagated along the axon of the neuron.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical noise energy is sub-threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuron has a damaged myelin sheath that causes the biological electrical stimulus to be sub-threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuron is a higher-order neuron.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuron is a first-order neuron.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuron is associated with a damaged anatomical region of the patient, the method further comprising exercising the anatomical region while applying the electrical noise energy to the neuron.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the anatomical region is a damaged limb.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein propagation of the action potential along the axon of the neuron initiates or supplements neuroplasticity in the central nervous system of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuron is damaged, and the propagation of the action potential along the neuron is afferent, such that it reduces neuroplasticity in the central nervous system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuron is an auditory nerve.

11. A method of providing therapy to a patient, the patient having a neuron to which a supra-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied, comprising:

applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing an action potential from being propagated along an axon of the neuron that would otherwise occur in response to the biological electrical stimulus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the application of the electrical noise energy to the neuron reduces or prevents neuroplasticity in a brain region associated with the neuron.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the patient suffers from a neurological disorder, and wherein the supra-threshold electrical stimulus is generated as a result of the neurological disorder.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the neurological disorder is one of a chemical addiction and tremor.

15. A method of providing therapy to a patient, comprising:

applying an electrical stimulus to a neuron; and

applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing or reversing any neurological accommodation of the neuron that may occur response to the electrical stimulus.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the application of the electrical noise energy prevents neurological accommodation of the neuron.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the application of the electrical noise energy reverses neurological accommodation of the neuron.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy are applied to the neuron at different times.