Method of intravascularly delivering stimulation leads into brain to stimulate the SPG

• US 7,818,063 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Garabedian, Robert J., Wallace, Michael P., Abrams, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow; Scott M
• Application Number:
  US11/627,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 607 38- 58, 600/378, 600/381
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0531 Brain cortex electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation

Abstract

A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient is provided. The method comprises intravascularly delivering a stimulation lead within the head of the patient, and placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue (e.g., cortical brain tissue or deep brain tissue), the stimulation of which will treat the neurological disorder. The stimulation lead can be placed into indirect contact with the brain tissue (e.g., through a blood vessel) or indirect contact with the brain tissue (e.g., when placed within the ventricular cavity or by being introduced through an exit point within a vessel wall). Optionally, the method comprises implanting a source of stimulation within the patient'"'"'s body, and then electrically coupling the proximal end of the stimulation lead, which conveniently extends from the access point within the circulatory system, to the implanted stimulation source. Using the stimulation lead, the brain tissue can then be stimulated in order to treat the neurological disorder.

Claims

1. A method of treating a disorder in a patient, comprising:

intravascularly delivering an electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient via the circulatory system of the patient;

placing the stimulation lead adjacent the spheno palatine ganglion (SPG); and

electrically stimulating the SPG with the stimulation lead.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SPG is electrically stimulated to control the amount of blood flow to the brain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the SPG is electrically stimulated to dilate blood vessels within the brain, thereby increasing the flow of blood to the brain.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the disorder is a stroke.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the disorder is Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease, and the increased blood flow facilitates metabolization of amlyoid plaques.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the dilation of the blood vessels minimizes vasospasms symptomatic of the disorder.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a drug to the brain, wherein the SPG is electrically stimulated to open the blood-brain barrier and improve absorption of the drug into the brain.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the disorder is a neurological disorder.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the SPG.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the SPG.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation lead is intravascularly delivered within the head of the patient via a facial vein or facial artery.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation lead is intravascularly delivered within the head of the patient via a superficial temporal vein.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation lead is intravascularly delivered within the head of the patient via a maxillary artery.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation lead is intravascularly delivered within the head of the patient via a descending palatine artery.