Techniques for treating anxiety by brain stimulation and drug infusion
First Claim
1. A method of using one or more drugs to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said one or more drugs, as well as a signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- surgically implanting said electrode so that the stimulation portion lies adjacent a predetermined stimulation site in brain tissue chosen to have anxiolytic properties;
surgically implanting said catheter so that the discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in said brain tissue chosen to have anxiolytic properties;
coupling said proximal end of said electrode to said signal generator;
operating said signal generator to stimulate said stimulation site;
operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said one or more drugs through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site while said signal generator is stimulating said stimulation site, whereby an anxiety disorder is treated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques using one or more drugs and/or electrical stimulation for treating an anxiety disorder by means of an implantable signal generator and electrode and/or an implantable pump and catheter. A catheter is surgically implanted in the brain to infuse the drugs, and one or more electrodes may be surgically implanted in the brain to provide electrical stimulation.
294 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of using one or more drugs to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said one or more drugs, as well as a signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, said method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting said electrode so that the stimulation portion lies adjacent a predetermined stimulation site in brain tissue chosen to have anxiolytic properties; surgically implanting said catheter so that the discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in said brain tissue chosen to have anxiolytic properties; coupling said proximal end of said electrode to said signal generator; operating said signal generator to stimulate said stimulation site; operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said one or more drugs through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site while said signal generator is stimulating said stimulation site, whereby an anxiety disorder is treated.
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2. A method of using one or more drugs to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to the pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of the one or more drugs, as well as a signal generator and an implantable electrode coupled to the signal generator having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion may stimulate a first site in a central nervous system chosen to have anxiolytic properties; surgically implanting the catheter so that the discharge portion may infuse the one or more drugs to a second site in a central nervous system chosen to have anxiolytic properties; operating the signal generator to stimulate the first site; operating the pump to discharge the one or more drugs through the discharge portion of the catheter into the second site while the signal generator is stimulating the first site, whereby an anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion may stimulate a site in a central nervous system chosen to have anxiolytic properties; sensing physiological parameters of a heightened state of anxiety operating the signal generator in response to the step of sensing physiological parameters, whereby the electrical signal produced by the signal generator is regulated in accordance with the physiological parameter detected.
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8. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at head of the caudate nucleus; operating the signal generator to stimulate the head of the caudate nucleus, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at dorsal medial nucleus of thalamus nucleus; operating the signal generator to stimulate the dorsal medial nucleus of thalamus nucleus, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at locus ceruleus; operating the signal generator to stimulate the locus ceruleus, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at amygdyla; operating the signal generator to stimulate the amygdyla, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at dorsal raphe nucleus; operating the signal generator to stimulate the dorsal raphe nucleus, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at septum; operating the signal generator to stimulate the septum, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at frontal cortex; operating the signal generator to stimulate the frontal cortex, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at anterior nucleus of thalamus; operating the signal generator to stimulate the anterior nucleus of thalamus, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method of using electrical stimulation to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an electrical signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, the proximal end of the electrode coupled to the signal generator, the method comprising the steps of:
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surgically implanting the electrode so that the stimulation portion lies at mammillary body; operating the signal generator to stimulate the mammillary body, whereby the anxiety disorder is treated. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification