Neural blocking therapy

• US 8,798,754 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flathead Partners, LLC, Venturi Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Venturi Group, LLC
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Donders, Adrianus P., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertram, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US12/045,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,339 Days
• Field of Search: 607 45- 46
• 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 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating a variety of conditions include treating a disorder associated with neural activity near a region of a brain. In such condition, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near said region, creating said field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within said field. For treating a tissue sensation, the method includes identifying a target area of tissue to be treated and placing an electrode to create a field near the target area, and creating the field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within the target area. For treating a condition associated with neural activity of a spinal cord, the method includes placing an electrode to create a field near a nerve associated with the spinal cord, and creating the field with parameters selected to at least partially block neural activity within the nerve.

Claims

1. A method of treating a disorder associated with a hormonal imbalance in a region of a brain, said method comprising:

placing at least one pair of electrodes beneath a skull of said patient to create a field near said region; and

altering a conduction of the cortex of the brain by creating said field with parameters selected to down-regulate neural activity to form an at least partial block of neural activity within said field, the parameters including a frequency of at least about 5,000 Hz, resulting in altering an effect of the hormonal imbalance on conductivity in said region of the brain.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of electrodes comprises a plurality of electrode pairs.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs are located on a patch electrode.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein creating said field comprises energizing a first electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with a waveform and energizing a second electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with an oppositely polarized waveform.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein creating said field comprises energizing each of the electrode pairs of the plurality of electrode pairs by energizing a first electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with a waveform and energizing a second electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with an oppositely polarized waveform.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein each electrode pair is energized during a delay period of the other electrode pairs.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein creating said field comprises energizing a first electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with a waveform and energizing a second electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with an oppositely polarized waveform.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the parameters selected to down-regulate neural activity to form an at least partial block of neural activity within said field comprise a current of about 0.2 to about 8 mAmp.

9. A method of claim 1, wherein the hormonal imbalance comprises a decrease in dopamine.

10. A method of claim 1, wherein the hormonal imbalance comprises an increase in the ratio of glutamate to dopamine.

11. A method of claim 1, wherein the disorder is Parkinson'"'"'s disease.

12. A method of claim 1, wherein the disorder is epilepsy.

13. An apparatus for treating a disorder associated with a hormonal imbalance in a region of a brain, said apparatus comprising:

at least one pair of electrodes for creating a field near said region, said electrode adapted to be placed beneath a skull of said patient near said region; and

a controller configured to create said field at said electrode, wherein said field is effective to alter a conduction of the cortex of the brain, resulting in altering an effect of the hormonal imbalance on conductivity in said region of the brain, said controller configured with parameters selected to down-regulate neural activity to form an at least partial block within said field, the parameters including a frequency of at least about 5,000 Hz.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one pair of electrodes comprises a plurality of electrode pairs.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of electrode pairs are located on a patch electrode.

16. A apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said controller is configured to create said field by energizing each of the electrode pairs of the plurality of electrode pairs by energizing a first electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with a waveform and energizing a second electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with an oppositely polarized waveform.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said controller is configured to energize each electrode pair during a delay period of the other electrode pairs.

18. An apparatus to according to claim 13, wherein said controller is configured to create said field by energizing a first electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with a waveform and energizing a second electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes with an oppositely polarized waveform.

19. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the parameters selected to down-regulate neural activity to form an at least partial block of neural activity within said field comprise a current of about 0.2 to about 8 mAmp.

20. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to create—

said field at said electrode effective to alter an effect of the hormonal imbalance—

, wherein the hormonal imbalance comprises a decrease in dopamine.

21. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to create said field at said electrode effective to alter an effect of the hormonal imbalance, wherein the hormonal imbalance comprises an increase in the ratio of glutamate to dopamine.

22. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the disorder is Parkinson'"'"'s disease.

23. An apparatus of claim 13, wherein the disorder is epilepsy.