Systems and methods for selecting stimulation sites and applying treatment, including treatment of symptoms of parkinson's disease, other movement disorders, and/or drug side effects

• US 20060253171A1
• Filed: 07/18/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Northstar Neuroscience, Inc.
• Inventors: Wyler, Allen, Fowler, Brad
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/49
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003

Abstract

Methods and systems for treating movement disorders are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment can include determining that the movement disorder affects the patient'"'"'s gait, oral functioning, and/or other functioning, and applying electrical stimulation proximate to the interhemispheric fissure, the Sylvian fissure, or between the two fissures, respectively. In another embodiment, the method can include selecting at least one neural process from among a plurality of processes sequentially carried out by a patient to cause a muscle movement in the patient (e.g., a planning process, an initiation process, and an execution process), and applying electrical stimulation to a location of the patient'"'"'s brain associated with the at least one neural process.

Claims

1-62. -62. (canceled)

63. A method for treating a neurological dysfunction, comprising:

implanting at least one electrode device so that a first electrical contact is at least proximate to one of the motor cortex, the prefrontal cortex and the supplementary motor area of a patient'"'"'s brain, and a second electrical contact is at least proximate to another of the motor cortex, the prefrontal cortex and the supplementary motor area; and

applying electrical stimulation to at least one of the first and second contacts.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein applying electrical stimulation includes applying electrical stimulation to one hemisphere of the patient'"'"'s brain.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein applying electrical stimulation includes applying electrical stimulation to both hemispheres of the patient'"'"'s brain.

66. The method of claim 63 wherein applying electrical stimulation includes applying electrical stimulation simultaneously via the first and second contacts.

67. The method of claim 63 wherein applying electrical stimulation includes applying electrical stimulation sequentially via the first and second contacts.