Methods and apparatus for transcranial stimulation
First Claim
1. A method for treating a disorder in a patient comprising:
- housing an electrode within an enclosure comprising an electrically conductive tissue contact element and a fluid passage;
positioning the electrode within the fluid passage;
contacting the electrically conductive tissue contact element to a skin surface of a head of the patient;
delivering an electrically conductive fluid through the fluid passage to electrically couple the electrode to the contact element; and
applying an electrical impulse through the electrode to a target region in a brain of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate one or more neurons in the target region of the brain.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, apparatus and methods are described for applying electric current to neurons in the brain to treat disorders and to improve motor and/or memory functions in a patient. In a method according to the invention, an electrode is positioned adjacent to and spaced from the skin surface of the patient'"'"'s head and an electric current is applied through the electrode to a target region in the brain to modulate one or more neurons in the target region. The electrode is housed within an enclosure and spaced from the skin surface so that the electrode does not directly contact the patient'"'"'s tissue, which reduces the potential for collateral tissue damage or necrosis and shields the electrode from the patient'"'"'s tissue which substantially inhibits Faradic products (e.g., H+, OH−, H2O2) of the electrode from reaching the target site.
124 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for treating a disorder in a patient comprising:
-
housing an electrode within an enclosure comprising an electrically conductive tissue contact element and a fluid passage; positioning the electrode within the fluid passage;
contacting the electrically conductive tissue contact element to a skin surface of a head of the patient;
delivering an electrically conductive fluid through the fluid passage to electrically couple the electrode to the contact element; andapplying an electrical impulse through the electrode to a target region in a brain of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate one or more neurons in the target region of the brain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A system for treating a patient'"'"'s brain comprising:
-
a source of energy; an enclosure having a contact element and a fluid passage, the contact element being sized and shaped for contacting an outer skin surface on a patient'"'"'s head; an electrode housed within the fluid passage of the enclosure and electrically coupled to the source of energy and the contact element of the enclosure; and wherein the source of energy is configured to apply an electrical impulse through the electrode and the contact element of the enclosure to a target region in the patient'"'"'s brain sufficient to modulate one or more neurons in the target region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification