System and method for treating Parkinson's Disease and other movement disorders

• US 7,299,096 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Northstar Neuroscience, Inc.
• Inventors: Wyler, Allen, Balzer, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US10/731,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20040181263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating movement disorders using cortical stimulation. In one embodiment, a method for treating movement disorders comprises determining a site at the cortex of the brain of a patient related to a movement disorder of an afflicted body part. The site can be determined by obtaining a representation of neural activity occurring in the cortex of the patient and correlating an area of neural activity with the afflicted body part. The method can also include applying neural stimulation, such as electrical or magnetic waveforms, directly to the site.

Claims

1. A method for treating movement disorders, comprising:

implanting an electrode array having a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first row and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second row at a stimulation site over the central sulcus of the patient; and

applying an electrical signal to at least some of the first electrodes and/or the second electrodes, wherein the patient has a movement disorder that is worse on a first side of the patient than on a second side of the patient opposite the first side, and wherein implanting the electrode array comprises positioning the electrode array over the precentral gyrus on the second side of the patient only.

2. A method for treating a patient having a movement disorder that is worse on a first side of the patient than on a second side of the patient opposite the first side;

comprising;

implanting an electrode at a stimulation site located over at least a portion of the precentral gyrus of the patient on only the second side of the patient; and

applying stimulation to the electrode to treat the movement disorder on both the first side and the second side of the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein implanting the electrode comprises positioning an array having a plurality of electrodes over only the precentral gyrus of the patient.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein implanting the electrode comprises positioning an array having a plurality of electrodes such that at least one electrode is over the precentral gyrus and at least one other electrode is over the postcentral gyrus of the patient on only the second side of the patient.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein implanting the electrode comprising placing an array having a plurality of first electrodes arranged in a first row and a plurality of second electrodes arranged in a second row at the stimulation site.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein implanting the electrode array comprises positioning the first and second rows at an oblique angle relative to the central sulcus of the patient.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein implanting the electrode array comprises positioning one of the first electrodes and one of the second electrodes over the precentral gyrus of the patient, and positioning another one of the first electrodes and another one of the second electrodes over the postcentral gyrus of the patient.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein applying stimulation to the electrode comprises delivering an electrical current directly to the dura of the patient at the stimulation site.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein applying stimulation to the electrode comprises delivering an electrical current directly to the patient at least proximate to the dura over the stimulation site.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein delivering an electrical current directly to the patient comprises applying a unipolar electrical potential to the electrode implanted at the stimulation site.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein delivering an electrical current directly to the patient comprises applying a unipolar electrical potential to a plurality of electrodes implanted at the stimulation site.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein delivering an electrical current directly to the patient comprises applying a bipolar electrical potential to a plurality of electrodes implanted at the stimulation site.