Methods and apparatus for effectuating a lasting change in a neural-function of a patient
First Claim
1. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:
- performing a noninvasive neurofunctional localization procedure to determine a cortical location at which a patient-specific intrinsic neural activity occurs;
positioning a first electrode beneath the scalp at a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the cortical location;
positioning a second electrode at a location remote from the cortical stimulation site;
applying an electromagnetic signal to the patient using the first and second electrodes;
modulating a neuroplastic activity with the applied signal to affect a patient symptom; and
wherein the electrical signal has a parameter that varies in a pseudorandom manner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The following disclosure describes a method for intracranial electrical stimulation to treat or otherwise effectuate a change in neural-functions of a patient. Several embodiments are directed toward enhancing or otherwise inducing a lasting change in neural activity to effectuate a particular neural-function. Such lasting change in neural activity is defined as “neuroplasticity.” The methods 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 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).
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:
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performing a noninvasive neurofunctional localization procedure to determine a cortical location at which a patient-specific intrinsic neural activity occurs; positioning a first electrode beneath the scalp at a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the cortical location; positioning a second electrode at a location remote from the cortical stimulation site; applying an electromagnetic signal to the patient using the first and second electrodes; modulating a neuroplastic activity with the applied signal to affect a patient symptom; and wherein the electrical signal has a parameter that varies in a pseudorandom manner.
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2. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:
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performing a noninvasive neurofunctional localization procedure to determine a cortical location at which a patient-specific intrinsic neural activity occurs; positioning a first electrode beneath the scalp at a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the cortical location; positioning a second electrode at a location remote from the cortical stimulation site; applying an electromagnetic signal to the patient using the first and second electrodes; modulating a neuroplastic activity with the applied signal to affect a patient symptom; and
wherein modulating the neuroplastic activity includes decreasing the neuroplastic activity.
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3. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:
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identifying a brain location at which a neuroplastic activity occurs or is expected to occur; positioning an electrode beneath the scalp at a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the identified brain location; applying an aperiodically varying electrical signal to the patient using the electrode; and modulating the neuroplastic activity with the applied signal to affect a patient symptom. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:
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identifying a cortical location at which an intrinsic neural activity occurs or is expected to occur to effectuate a first neural function; applying a first electromagnetic signal to a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the cortical location at a level that triggers the first neural function as a result of the first signal alone; applying a second electromagnetic signal to the cortical stimulation site at a level that fails to trigger the first neural function in the absence of additional neural input; and engaging the patient in a behavioral activity that selectively generates a neural activity corresponding to a second neural function different than the first neural function, concurrent with applying the second electrical signal to the cortical stimulation site. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing cortical stimulation to a patient, comprising:
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identifying a cortical location at which a patient-specific intrinsic neural activity occurs or is expected to occur to effectuate a first neural function; applying an electromagnetic signal to a cortical stimulation site corresponding to the cortical location at a level that fails to trigger the first neural function in the absence of additional neural input; engaging the patient in a behavioral activity that selectively generates neural activity corresponding to a second neural function, concurrent with applying the electrical signal to the cortical stimulation site. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for treating a patient condition, comprising:
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identifying a cortical location having a first neural population at which a patient-specific intrinsic neural activity corresponding to a first neural function occurs or is expected to occur; determining a threshold level of a second neural population different than the first neural population; based at least in part on the threshold level of the second neural population, applying an electromagnetic signal to the cortical location at a level below the threshold level of the second neural population; and modulating a neuroplastic activity with the applied signal to affect a patient symptom. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification