Techniques for adjusting the locus of excitation of neural tissue in the spinal cord or brain
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling for therapeutic purposes a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain;
establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and
presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship to cause a steerable locus of excitation of nerve fibers or cells of said brain;
whereby said nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain.
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Abstract
A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation with electrodes placed in the intraspinal tissue, on the surface of the brain or deep in the brain in which first, second and third electrodes are implanted in or adjacent to the desired neural tissue. Anode/cathode relationships are established between the electrodes and pulses are presented to the electrodes so that fibers or cell bodies in said neural tissue are activated. Amplitude and/or pulse width of the pulses are varied to steer the locus of cell body or axon activation.
616 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of controlling for therapeutic purposes a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship to cause a steerable locus of excitation of nerve fibers or cells of said brain; whereby said nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient. the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship, whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said pulses are independently variable in amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship, whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said pulses are variable in pulse width. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said step of placing includes placing said first electrode, said second electrode, and said third electrode in a generally planar configuration.
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30. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship, whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said step of placing includes placing said first electrode, said second electrode, and said third electrode generally along a common axis.
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31. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient. the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship, whereby nerve wherein said predetermined in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said predetermined portion is adjacent the central sulcus.
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32. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient. the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship; whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said predetermined portion is deep in the brain.
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33. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship. whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain wherein said predetermined portion is on the surface of said brain.
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34. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode at least near said predetermined portion of the brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship, whereby nerve fibers or cells are activated in said predetermined portion of said brain and wherein said step of placing includes placing at least one of said electrodes in brain tissue, and includes placing other electrodes in fluid spaces outside or inside said brain tissue.
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35. A method of controlling a volume of neural tissue stimulation of a predetermined portion of a brain of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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placing a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode in a subdural area of said brain; establishing anode/cathode relationships between said first electrode and said second electrode and between said first electrode and said third electrode; and presenting electrical pulses to each established anode/cathode relationship to cause a steerable locus of excitation of nerve fibers or cells of said subdural area of said brain, whereby said nerve fibers or cells are activated in said subdural area of said brain. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification