Method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation

• US 6,892,097 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Holsheimer, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/393,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 607 1- 3, 607/46, 607/44, 607/45, 607/116, 607/67, 607/68, 607/70, 607/72
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3604 for correcting spinal deformities, e.g. scoliosis

Abstract

Methods are disclosed of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation. For example, first, second and third electrodes may be placed in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain. A hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse may be applied to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation, or a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse may be applied to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation. Other exemplary embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:

placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain;

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through a second electrode wherein the tissue near the second electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation; and

applying depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through a third electrode wherein the tissue near the third electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the first electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the second electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the third electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain.

5. The method claim 4 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the first electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the second electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the third electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first second and third electrodes.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the first electrode near the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the second electrode near the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the third electrode near the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the stops of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

20. A method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electrical pulses;

providing a first electrode;

providing an electrical return path;

connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;

placing the first electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain;

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation; and

applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of providing an electrical return path includes the step of providing an electrical return path that includes a second electrode.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of providing an electrical return path includes the step of providing an electrical return path that includes the source of electrical pulses.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of providing a first electrode includes the step of providing a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and further comprising the step of connecting the second electrode to the source of electrical pulses.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of:

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the second electrode wherein the tissue near the second electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of implanting the source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body.

26. A method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation comprising the step of:

providing a source of electrical pulses;

providing a first electrode;

providing an electrical return path;

connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;

placing the first electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain; and

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;

wherein the step of providing a first electrode includes the step of providing a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and further comprising the step of connecting the second electrode to the source of electrical pulses;

p1 applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the second electrode wherein the tissue near the second electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation; and

wherein the step of providing a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode includes the step of providing a third electrode spaced from the first and second electrodes and further comprising the step of connecting the third electrode to the source of electrical pulses.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of:

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the third electrode wherein the tissue near the third electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of:

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the third electrode wherein the tissue near the third electrode is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

29. A method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electrical pulses;

providing a first electrode;

providing an electrical return path;

connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;

placing the first electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain;

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;

applying a subsequent subthreshold depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of providing an electrical return path includes the step of providing an electrical return path that includes a second electrode.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of providing an electrical return path includes the step of providing an electrical return path that includes the source of electrical pulses.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of providing a first electrode includes the step of providing a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and further comprising the step of connecting the second electrode to the source of electrical pulses.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of:

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the second electrode wherein the tissue near the second electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the step of providing a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from the first electrode includes the step of providing a third electrode spaced from the first and second electrodes and further comprising the step of connecting the third electrode to the source of electrical pulses.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of:

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the third electrode wherein the tissue near the third electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

36. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of:

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the third electrode wherein the tissue near the third electrode is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

37. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of implanting the source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body.

38. A method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:

providing a source of electrical pulses;

providing a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and a third electrode spaced from the first electrode opposite the second electrode so that the first electrode is generally between the second and third electrodes;

providing an electrical return path;

connecting the first, second and third electrodes to the source of electrical pulses;

placing the first, second and third electrodes within a patient'"'"'s body in a patient'"'"'s brain;

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the second and third electrodes wherein the tissue near the second and third electrodes is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the step of applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of implanting the source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body.

41. A method of preparing neural tissue of the brain for subsequent electrical stimulation comprising the steps of:

placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain;

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;

applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through a second electrode wherein the tissue near the second electrode is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation; and

applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the third electrode wherein the tissue near the third electrode is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the first electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the second electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the third electrode in tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

46. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

47. The method of claim 42 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

48. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the first electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the second electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the third electrode on the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

51. The method of claim 50 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

52. The method of claim 49 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

53. The method of claim 48 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

54. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the first electrode near the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the second electrode near the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the step of placing first, second and third electrodes in close proximity to tissue of a patient'"'"'s brain includes placing the third electrode near the surface of a patient'"'"'s brain.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

58. The method of claim 55 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.

59. The method of claim 54 further comprising the steps of:

implanting a source of electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body; and

electrically connecting the source of electrical pulses to the first, second and third electrodes.