Methods of improving neuropsychological function in patients with neurocognitive disorders

• US 8,538,536 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Rezai, Ali, Kubu, Cynthia S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/106,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20080288018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3, 607/45, 607/116, 607/139, 600/378, 600/545
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/168 Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14 Infusion devices, e.g. infusing by gravity; Blood infusion; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of improving neuropsychological function in a patient having a neurocognitive disorder by chemical or electrically modulating a target site(s) in the ventral striatum/ventral capsule region. Methods also include modulating the treatment based on a closed-loop feedback system that measures bodily activities associated with the neuropsychological function (i.e. that help to determine whether a neuropsychological function is or can be improved.

Claims

1. A method of improving neuropsychological dysfunction in a patient suffering from an acquired brain injury disorder or a neurodegenerative disorder, the method comprising:

identifying a patient suffering from an acquired brain injury disorder or a neurodegenerative disorder;

measuring the patient'"'"'s neuropsychological function;

determining if the patient suffers from neuropsychological dysfunction based on the measurement;

placing a delivery device on a target site in the ventral striatum, ventral capsule, or intersection of the ventral capsule and ventral striatum of the patient;

activating the delivery device to apply an activation signal to the target site; and

identifying improvements in the neuropsychological dysfunction in the patient based on the activation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a bodily activity associated with the neuropsychological function;

determining if the neuropsychological function is being affected;

producing a sensor signal based on the determination;

modulating the activation signal based on the sensor signal; and

identifying improvements in the neuropsychological function based on the modulation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein detecting the bodily activity comprises conducting a neurophysiological test on the patient selected from the group consisting of:

performing a functional MRI, performing connectivity studies, performing diffusion tensor imaging, performing magnetoencephalography, measuring evoked potentials, and performing a PET scan.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

positioning the delivery device on the target site based on the sensor signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuropsychological function is memory.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the memory is verbal and/or visual memory.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuropsychological function is visuo-spatial skills

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the neuropsychological function is attention, working memory, learning, thinking speed, problem solving/executive cognitive function, language, visuo-constructional skills, visuo-spatial skills, motivation, drive, affect regulation, or interpretation of emotion stimuli.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery device is an electrode and the activation signal is an electrical signal.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery device is a catheter or drug port and the activation is a chemical signal.

11. A method of improving neuropsychological dysfunction in a patient suffering from an acquired brain injury disorder or a neurodegenerative disorder, the method comprising:

identifying a patient suffering from an acquired brain injury disorder or a neurodegenerative disorder;

measuring the patient'"'"'s neuropsychological function;

determining if the patient suffers from neuropsychological dysfunction based on the measurement;

activating a delivery device to apply an activation signal to a target site of the ventral striatum, ventral capsule, or intersection of the ventral capsule and ventral striatum of the patient in response to a sensor signal which detects a bodily activity associated with the neuropsychological function; and

identifying improvements in the neuropsychological dysfunction in the patient based on the sensor signal.