METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USING SENSORS WITH A DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for applying stimulation to a target stimulation site within a patient, the method comprising:
- conveying an electrical stimulus to a plurality of electrodes implanted within the patient in accordance with an electrical current distribution;
sensing eye movement;
determining whether the sensed eye movement is a side effect of the conveyed electrical stimulus;
modifying the electrical current distribution if it is determined that the sensed eye movement is a side effect of the conveyed electrical stimulus; and
conveying the electrical stimulus to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the modified electrical current distribution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for applying stimulation to a target stimulation site within a patient, while avoiding undesirable eye movement side effects of the stimulation, are provided. The method includes determining whether eye movement, sensed by internal or external electrodes, is a side effect of a conveyed electrical stimulus. If the eye movement is a side effect, the electrical current distribution of the stimulus is modified in order to steer a locus of the electrical stimulus from one tissue region of the patient to another different tissue region of the patient, thereby mitigating the eye movement side effects. For example, the locus of the electrical stimulus may be steered away from the oculomotor nerve. Eye movement side effects of DBS treatment may include apraxia of lid opening, downward movement and adduction of only one eyeball, and/or continuous deviation of both eyeballs.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for applying stimulation to a target stimulation site within a patient, the method comprising:
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conveying an electrical stimulus to a plurality of electrodes implanted within the patient in accordance with an electrical current distribution; sensing eye movement; determining whether the sensed eye movement is a side effect of the conveyed electrical stimulus; modifying the electrical current distribution if it is determined that the sensed eye movement is a side effect of the conveyed electrical stimulus; and conveying the electrical stimulus to the plurality of electrodes in accordance with the modified electrical current distribution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A brain stimulation system, comprising:
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a sensor for sensing eye movement; a plurality of implantable electrodes, wherein the electrodes are configured for conveying an electrical stimulus in accordance with an electrical current distribution; a stimulation device for generating the electrical stimulus and delivering the electrical stimulus to the electrodes; and a processor coupled to the sensor and the stimulation device, and configured for determining whether the sensed eye movement is a side effect of a conveyed stimulus, and for modifying the electrical current distribution in a manner that minimizes the side effect of the conveyed stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification