Adaptive electric field modulation of neural systems
First Claim
1. A method of modifying the neuronal activity of a neural system comprising neurons, comprising:
- a) measuring the neuronal activity of a neural system;
b) applying an oriented electric field to said neural system effective to modify the neuronal activity of the neural system, wherein the magnitude and polarity of said applied electric field is changed in response to the measured neuronal activity.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to devices and methods of modifying the neuronal activity of a neural system comprising neurons, comprising, one or more of the following steps, measuring the neuronal activity of a neural system; and applying an oriented electric field to said neural system effective to modify the neuronal activity of the neural system, wherein the magnitude and polarity of said applied electric field is changed in response to the measured neuronal activity. The present invention also relates to devices and methods for treating brain disorders, such as epilepsy and Parkinson'"'"'s disease, comprising, one or more of the following steps, applying a sub-threshold and oriented electric field in situ to the brain of a patient having such a disorder in an amount effective to reduce the abnormal activity of the brain, wherein the electric field is applied through field electrodes in contact with the brain. The present invention also relates to methods and devices for restoring or repairing a brain function, such as sensation (e.g., taste, or smell), somatic activity, auditory activity, visual activity, or motor activity. It can also be used for testing drugs, pharmacological agents, and other modulators of neuronal function.
195 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of modifying the neuronal activity of a neural system comprising neurons, comprising:
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a) measuring the neuronal activity of a neural system;
b) applying an oriented electric field to said neural system effective to modify the neuronal activity of the neural system, wherein the magnitude and polarity of said applied electric field is changed in response to the measured neuronal activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of treating epilepsy in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
applying a sub-threshold and oriented electric field in situ to the brain of a patient having epilepsy in an amount effective to reduce epileptiform activity of the brain, wherein the electric field is applied through field electrodes located in a position effective to produce a field in said brain. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of treating Parkinson'"'"'s disease in a patient in need thereof, comprising:
applying a sub-threshold and oriented electric field in situ to the brain of a patient having Parkinson'"'"'s disease in an amount effective to reduce tremors, rigidity, or difficulty in initiating movement, wherein the electric field is applied through field electrodes in contact with the brain. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of identifying agents which modulate the neuronal activity of a neural system comprising neurons, comprising:
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a) measuring the neuronal activity of a neural system;
b) applying an oriented electric field to said neural system effective to modify the neuronal activity of the neural system, wherein the magnitude and polarity of said applied electric field is changed in response to the measured neuronal activity; and
c) administering an agent in an effective amount which modulates the neuronal activity of the neural system.
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28. A field-producing device for modifying the neuronal activity of a neural system comprising neurons, comprising:
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(a) field electrode means for applying an external electric field to a neural system;
(b) field application electronic means for generating an external field to a neural system, which is operably connected to (a) field electrode means;
(c) measuring means for monitoring the neural activity of the neural system;
(d) measurement electronics means for recording neural activity, which is operably connected to (d) measuring electronic means;
(e) feedback controller means for determining the amount of external field to apply to the neural system, which is operably connected to (b) field application means and (c) measuring means. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification