Method of stimulating fastigium nucleus to treat neurological disorders

• US 7,286,879 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Wallace, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Carl
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, TONG E
• Application Number:
  US10/893,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20060015152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/46, 607/115, 607/116, 607/117, 607/118, 607/1, 607/2, 600/377, 600/378, 600/372, 600/373, 128/897, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/45
• 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

Abstract

A method of treating a neurological disorder (such as acute stroke) in a patient is provided. The method comprises introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient'"'"'s head, advancing the stimulation lead within an intracranial vascular body, such as a blood vessel or ventricle, placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient'"'"'s brain, and stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.

Claims

1. A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient'"'"'s brain, the method comprising:

introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient'"'"'s head;

advancing the stimulation lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient; and

placing the stimulation lead adjacent a selected structure of the patient'"'"'s brain, the stimulation of which increases the blood flow to the patient'"'"'s brain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming an opening through the patient'"'"'s cranium, wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head through the opening.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the selected brain structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the selected brain structure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising stimulating the selected brain structure with the stimulation lead to increase the flow of blood to the brain, thereby treating the disorder.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient'"'"'s brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation of the fastigium nucleus increases the flow of blood within the patient'"'"'s brain.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient'"'"'s brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

11. A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient'"'"'s head via the circulatory system of the patient;

advancing the stimulation lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient;

placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient'"'"'s brain;

stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient'"'"'s brain.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the fastigium nucleus.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the fastigium nucleus.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.

21. A method of performing a medical procedure on a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrical lead within the head of the patient via a blood vessel;

advancing the lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient; and

placing the lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient'"'"'s brain.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the medical procedure comprises treating a neurological disorder.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient'"'"'s brain.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical lead is placed in direct contact with the fastigium nucleus.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the electrical lead is placed in indirect contact with the fastigium nucleus.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the electrical lead.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the stimulation of the fastigium nucleus increases the flow of blood within the patient'"'"'s brain.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient'"'"'s brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.

33. A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising:

introducing an electrical stimulation lead within the patient'"'"'s head;

advancing the stimulation lead within at least one of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the preculminate vein of the patient; and

placing the stimulation lead adjacent the fastigium nucleus of the patient'"'"'s brain.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the neurological disorder is a disorder that can be alleviated by increasing blood flow within the patient'"'"'s brain.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the neurological disorder is an acute stroke.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the neurological disorder is selected from a group consisting of acute stroke, chronic transient ischemic attack, cerebral vasospasm, and Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming an opening through the patient'"'"'s cranium, wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head through the opening.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the fastigium nucleus.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the fastigium nucleus.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising stimulating the fastigium nucleus with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the stimulation of the fastigium nucleus increases the flow of blood within the patient'"'"'s brain.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

introducing another electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;

placing the other stimulation lead adjacent cortical tissue of the patient'"'"'s brain; and

stimulating the cortical tissue with the other stimulation lead to rehabilitate the patient.

43. The method of claim 33, wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the posterior inferior cerebellar artery.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein the stimulation lead is advanced within the preculminate vein.