Electrical stimulation system and method for stimulating tissue in the brain to treat a neurological condition

• US 8,364,271 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: De Ridder, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Natasha
• Application Number:
  US12/503,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/62, 607/139, 600/383, 600/378, 600/544, 600/13
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36096 Mood disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety or panic disorder
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/361 Phantom sensations, e.g. tinnitus

Abstract

According to one aspect, a stimulation system is provided for electrically stimulating a predetermined site to treat a neurological condition. The system includes an electrical stimulation lead adapted for implantation in communication with a predetermined site, wherein the site is brain tissue site. The stimulation lead includes one or more stimulation electrodes adapted to be positioned in the predetermined site. The system also includes a stimulation source that generates the stimulation pulses for transmission to the one or more stimulation electrodes of the stimulation lead to deliver the stimulation pulses to the predetermined site to treat a neurological disorder or condition.

Claims

1. A method of treating a neurological condition in a patient using electrical stimulation comprising:

mapping a target cortical site on the cortex of a brain of the patient to be stimulated, wherein mapping comprises identifying an area of the cortex having altered neuronal activity such that the altered neuronal activity is an area of cortical reorganization, the identified area is the target cortical site;

applying electromagnetic stimulation to the target cortical site via transcranial magnetic stimulation; and

determining if electromagnetic stimulation of the target cortical site improved the patient'"'"'s neurological condition;

placing electrodes extradurally such that the electrodes are below the skull and on the dura over the patient'"'"'s target cortical site if it is determined that transcranial magnetic stimulation improved the patient'"'"'s neurological condition; and

treating the neurological condition by generating electrical signals with a signal generator using the electrodes wherein the signal electrically stimulates the patient'"'"'s cortex to treat the condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurological condition is depression.