Low frequency neurostimulator for the treatment of neurological disorders

• US 9,033,861 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aruene Corporation
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Fischell, David R., Upton, Adrian R.M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US12/549,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20090318747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 600/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• 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 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for treating neurological conditions by low-frequency time varying electrical stimulation includes an electrical device for applying such low-frequency energy, in a range below approximately 10 Hz, to the patient'"'"'s brain tissue. An implantable embodiment applies direct electrical stimulation to electrodes implanted in or on the patient'"'"'s brain, while a non-invasive embodiment causes a magnetic field to induce electrical currents in the patient'"'"'s brain.

Claims

1. A readily portable magnetic depolarizer adapted to be positioned on the head of a patient comprising:

at least one magnetic coil; and

control circuitry in operable communication with the at least one magnetic coil, the control circuitry configured to generate a high-intensity magnetic field in the at least one magnetic coil for a duration of about 10 microseconds and 1000 microseconds;

wherein the generated high-intensity magnetic field is provided by a carrier frequency having a low-frequency signal less than 10 Hz modulated thereon.

2. The readily portable magnetic depolarizer of claim 1 wherein the intensity of the magnetic field corresponding to the generated high-intensity magnetic field is between about 0.1 and 10 Tesla at a surface of the patient'"'"'s brain.

3. The depolarizer of claim 1, wherein the low-frequency signal is modulated using one of frequency modulation and amplitude modulation.

4. The depolarizer of claim 1, wherein the carrier frequency is on the order of 100 Hz.

5. A method of delivering magnetic stimulation to the brain of a patient transcranially comprising:

configuring control circuitry associated with at least one magnetic coil to cause the at least one magnetic coil to generate a high-intensity magnetic field that corresponds to a pulse of a duration of between about 10 microseconds and 1000 microseconds and an intensity of between about 0.1 and 10 Tesla using at least one magnetic coil to deliver at least one pulse corresponding to a high-intensity magnetic field when control circuitry associated with the at least one magnetic coil causes the high-intensity magnetic field to be generated,

wherein the control circuitry further is configured to generate a plurality of high-intensity magnetic fields via a carrier frequency having a low-frequency signal between approximately 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz modulated thereon.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the low-frequency signal is modulated using one of frequency modulation and amplitude modulation.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the carrier frequency is on the order of 100 Hz.