METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTUATING A LASTING CHANGE IN A NEURAL-FUNCTION OF A PATIENT

• US 20120022611A1
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Firlik, Andrew D., Balzer, Jeffrey, Gliner, Bradford Evan, Levy, Alan J., Morgan, Carlton B., Firlik, Katrina S.
• Application Number:
  US13/240,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022611A1
• 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 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• 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 1/37514 Brain implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

The following disclosure describes several methods and apparatus for intracranial electrical stimulation to treat or otherwise effectuate a change in neural-functions of a patient. The methods in accordance with the invention can be used to treat brain damage (e.g., stroke, trauma, etc.), brain disease (e.g., Alzheimer'"'"'s, Pick'"'"'s, Parkinson'"'"'s, etc.), and/or brain disorders (e.g., epilepsy, depression, etc.). The methods in accordance with the invention can also be used to enhance neural-function of normal, healthy brains (e.g., learning, memory, etc.), or to control sensory functions (e.g., pain).

Claims

1. A method of effectuating a neural-function of a brain of a patient associated with a first location in the brain, comprising:

identifying a stimulation site in and/or on the brain where neural activity has changed in response to a change in the neural-function in the first location of the brain;

positioning a first electrode at the stimulation site;

positioning a second electrode at the stimulation site; and

applying an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a stimulation site comprises imaging the cortex of the brain.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a stimulation site comprises:

taking a first image of the brain that shows neural activity related to the neural-function using functional MRI;

taking a second image of the brain that shows neural activity related to the neural-function using functional MRI after taking the first image of the brain; and

comparing a change in the neural activity related to the neural-function.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a peripheral input to the patient that is expected to generate neural activity in the brain related to performing the neural-function.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a peripheral input to the patient that is expected to generate neural activity in the brain that performs the neural-function; and

identifying a stimulation site comprises taking a first image of the brain that shows neural activity before applying the peripheral input, taking a second image of the brain that shows neural activity while applying the peripheral input, and comparing a change in neural activity in the brain between the first and second images.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein neural activity for the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location in the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting neural activity for the neural-function at a second location in the brain different than the first location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the neural-function controls learning a task and the neural activity related to the neural function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in the neural activity at the first location of the brain while the patient learns the task.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the neural-function controls learning a task and the neural activity related to the neural function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in the neural activity at a second location different than the first location of the brain while the patient learns the task.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by a disease and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity adjacent to the first region.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by a disease and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity related to the neural-function at a second location different than the first location.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by brain damage and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity adjacent to the first region.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by brain damage and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity related to the neural-function at a second location different than the first location.

7. The method of clam 6 wherein detecting the neural activity comprises taking functional MRI images of the brain and monitoring neural activity at the second location.

9. The method of clam 8 wherein detecting a change in the neural activity comprises taking functional MRI images of the brain while the patient learns the task.

11. The method of clam 10 wherein detecting a change in the neural activity comprises taking functional MRI images of the brain while the patient learns the task.