SUB-MOTOR-THRESHOLD STIMULATION OF DEEP BRAIN TARGETS USING TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION

• US 20110098779A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainsway, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cervel Neurotech, Inc.
• Inventors: Schneider, M. Bret, Mishelevich, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,795,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for modulating deep brain target regions using an array of TMS electromagnets, wherein each TMS electromagnet stimulates the target at a level that is below motor threshold (MT). Neurological disorders (or disorders having neurological effects) may be treated by sub-MT stimulation of deep-brain targets from an array of TMS electromagnets.

Claims

1. A method of modulating a deep brain target using very low-power stimulation, the method comprising:

aiming a plurality of TMS electromagnets at a deep-brain target;

applying power to each of the TMS electromagnets at a level that is below the motor threshold (MT) at the target, and thereby modulating the activity of the deep brain target region.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a deep-brain target.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising aiming a TMS electromagnet at a neuronal target that modulates the activity of the deep-brain target.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of aiming comprising orienting the apex or face of each TMS electromagnet so that the central axis of the applied magnetic field intersects the target.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the deep-brain target is the cingulate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the deep-brain target is the insula.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the power applied to one or more TMS electromagnets is below the motor threshold for neuronal regions between the deep-brain target and the TMS electromagnet.

8. A method of treating a disorder by deep-brain Transcranial magnet stimulation, the method comprising:

identifying a target deep brain region associated with the neuronal disorder;

aiming a TMS electromagnet at the target deep brain region;

applying power to a plurality of TMS electromagnet at a level that is below the motor threshold (MT) at the target deep brain region to modulate the activity of the target deep brain target region.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of aiming comprises aiming the plurality of TMS electromagnets at the target deep brain region.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising aiming a second TMS electromagnet at a second neuronal target.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second neuronal target comprises a neuronal target that modulates the activity of the target deep-brain region.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising up-regulating both the first and second neuronal targets.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising down-regulating both the first and second neuronal targets.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising up-regulating the first neuronal target and down-regulating the second neuronal target.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the target deep-brain region is the cingulate.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the target deep-brain region is the insula.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the disorder is selected from the group consisting of:

pain, depression, addiction, Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, attention deficit disorder, autism, anorgasmia, cerebral palsy, bipolar depression, unipolar depression, epilepsy, generalized anxiety disorder, acute head trauma, hedonism, obesity, OCD, acute pain, chronic pain, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, persistent vegetative state, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, rehabilitation/regenesis for post-stroke, post-head trauma, social anxiety disorder, Tourette'"'"'s Syndrome, hemorrhagic stroke, and ischemic stroke.

18. A method of treating a disorder by deep-brain Transcranial magnet stimulation, the method comprising:

identifying a target deep brain region;

aiming a plurality of TMS electromagnets at the target deep brain region;

applying power to the TMS electromagnets at a level that is below the motor threshold (MT) at the target deep brain region to modulate the activity of the target deep brain target region.