Nerve stimulation for treating spasticity, tremor, muscle weakness, and other motor disorders
First Claim
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1. A method for treating spasticity of a subject, comprising:
- driving a first current into a spinal cord of the subject;
configuring the first current so as to stimulate a subset of fibers of the spinal cord that include one or more fibers descending from an upper motor neuron (UMN), so as to treat the spasticity;
driving a second current into a nerve of the subject that includes one or more gamma motor fibers innervating a muscle spindle of the subject; and
configuring the second current so as to inhibit propagation of action potentials in at least one of the gamma motor fibers.
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Abstract
A method for treating spasticity of a subject is provided, including driving a current into a nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers, and configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of action potentials in one or more of the sensory fibers, so as to treat the spasticity. In a preferred embodiment, the sensory fibers include one or more Ia sensory fibers, and configuring the current includes configuring the current so as to inhibit propagation of the action potentials in at least one of the Ia sensory fibers.
375 Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method for treating spasticity of a subject, comprising:
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driving a first current into a spinal cord of the subject;
configuring the first current so as to stimulate a subset of fibers of the spinal cord that include one or more fibers descending from an upper motor neuron (UMN), so as to treat the spasticity;
driving a second current into a nerve of the subject that includes one or more gamma motor fibers innervating a muscle spindle of the subject; and
configuring the second current so as to inhibit propagation of action potentials in at least one of the gamma motor fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for treating spasticity of a subject, comprising:
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an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a nerve of the subject that includes one or more sensory fibers; and
a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve a current that is capable of inhibiting propagation of spasticity-related action potentials in at least one of the sensory fibers, so as to treat the spasticity, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply collision blocking to the nerve, so as to inhibit propagation of the spasticity-related action potentials, and wherein the electrode device comprises;
a cathode, adapted to apply to the nerve a stimulating current that is capable of inducing cathode-induced action potentials in the nerve;
a first set of one or more anodes, adapted to be disposed on one side of the cathode, and to apply to the nerve a first inhibiting current that is capable of inhibiting the cathode-induced action potentials in the nerve so as to produce a selective anodal block of the nerve; and
a second set of one or more anodes, adapted to be disposed on a second side of the cathode opposite the first set of anodes, and to apply to the nerve a second inhibiting current which is capable of inhibiting the cathode-induced action potentials in the nerve so as to produce an essentially complete anodal block of the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. Apparatus for treating spasticity of a subject, comprising:
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an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a nerve of the subject that includes one or more gamma motor fibers innervating a muscle spindle of a muscle of the subject; and
a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply to the nerve a current that is capable of inhibiting propagation of spasticity-related action potentials in at least one of the gamma motor fibers, so as to treat the spasticity, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the electrode device to apply collision blocking to the nerve, so as to inhibit propagation of the spasticity-related action potentials, and wherein the electrode device comprises;
a cathode, adapted to apply to the nerve a stimulating current that is capable of inducing cathode-induced action potentials in the nerve;
a first set of one or more anodes, adapted to be disposed on one side of the cathode, and to apply to the nerve an inhibiting current that is capable of inhibiting the cathode-induced action potentials in the nerve so as to produce a selective anodal block of the nerve; and
a second set of one or more anodes, adapted to be disposed on a second side of the cathode opposite the first set of anodes, and to apply to the nerve an inhibiting current which is capable of inhibiting the cathode-induced action potentials in the nerve so as to produce an essentially complete anodal block of the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeBioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
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Original AssigneeBioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
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InventorsDarby, Ron, Cohen, Ehud, Ayal, Shai
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Primary Examiner(s)Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
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Application NumberUS10/254,024Publication NumberTime in Patent Office959 DaysField of Search607/45, 607/48, 607/49, 607/117, 607/118US Class Current607/48CPC Class CodesA61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for ...A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointe...A61N 1/36021 for treatment of painA61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tr...A61N 1/36071 PainA61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. impl...
