Method to enhance afferent and efferent transmission using noise resonance

• US 9,737,703 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Carbunaru, Rafael, Moffitt, Michael, Jaax, Kristen, DiGiore, Andrew, Lane, Courtney
• Primary Examiner(s): FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN
• Application Number:
  US12/501,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,965 Days
• Field of Search: 607 45, 607 46, 607 55- 57, 607 1, 607 2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36164 Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628

Abstract

Methods of providing therapy to a patient are provided. In one method, the patient has a neuron to which a sub-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied. The method comprises applying electrical noise energy to the neuron, wherein resonance between the biological electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy is created, such that an action potential is propagated along the axon of the neuron. In another method, the patient has a neuron to which a supra-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied. This method comprises applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing an action potential from being propagated along the axon of the neuron. Still another method comprises applying an electrical stimulus to a neuron, and applying supra-threshold electrical noise energy to the neuron, thereby preventing or reversing any neurological accommodation of the neuron that may occur in response to the electrical stimulus.

Claims

1. A method of providing therapy to a patient, the patient having a neuron to which a sub-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied, comprising:

applying electrical noise energy to the neuron, wherein resonance between the biological electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy is created, such that an action potential is propagated along the axon of the neuron, wherein the neuron is an auditory nerve.

2. A method of providing therapy to a patient, the patient having a neuron to which a sub-threshold biological electrical stimulus is applied, comprising:

applying electrical noise energy to the neuron, wherein resonance between the biological electrical stimulus and the electrical noise energy is created, such that an action potential is propagated along the axon of the neuron, wherein the electrical noise energy is a continuous signal.