# US 10,245,432 B2 · Method and apparatus for treatment of focal dystonia > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,432 B2 - Document ID: US10245432B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/718,097 - Filed: 2017-09-28 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-29 - Assignees: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH - Applicants: Med-El Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH - Inventors: Michael J. Pitman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245432B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/36067: {Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease (stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003)} - A61N 1/36003: {of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance} - A61N 1/36057: {adapted for stimulating afferent nerves} - A61N 1/36164: {Sub-threshold or non-excitatory signals (non-excitatory signals to the heart A61N1/3628)} - A61N 1/36171: {Frequency} - A61N 1/36175: {Pulse width or duty cycle} - A61N 1/3601: {of respiratory organs} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for using low levels of electrical stimulation to treat focal dystonia by stimulating the afferent nervous system and/or altering the function of the gamma motor neurons innervating muscles which experience symptomatic spasms. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating focal dystonia comprising: a. providing a system comprising a stimulating electrode operably connected with a processor configured to set one or more stimulation parameters for an electrical impulse deliverable by said electrode; b. placing said electrode in communication with at least one muscle; c. using said processor to set said stimulation parameters such that said electrical impulse is adapted to cause a level of stimulation which does not exceed an excitability threshold of one or more alpha motor neurons located within said at least one muscle; and d. delivering said electrical impulse to said at least one muscle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrode is inserted into said at least one muscle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrode is placed in contact with said at least one muscle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical impulse has an amplitude, a frequency, and a duty cycle governed by parameters set by said processor, and wherein at least one of said amplitude and said frequency and said duty cycle are varied during treatment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical impulse acts upon one or more muscle spindles located within said at least one muscle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical impulse acts upon one or more gamma motor neurons located within said at least one muscle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein said stimulating electrical impulse decreases the level of activity of said one or more gamma neurons. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical impulse acts upon one or more afferent neurons located within said at least one muscle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said stimulating electrical impulse decreases the level of activity of said one or more afferent neurons. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein said stimulating electrical impulse inhibits at least one neural signal transmitted to a central nervous system by said one or more afferent neurons. ### Claim 11 A method of treating focal dystonia comprising using an electrode in communication with a processor to deliver an electrical impulse to a muscle, wherein said impulse delivers a level of stimulation that is below an excitability threshold of alpha motor neurons innervating said muscle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said electrode is inserted into said muscle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said electrode is placed in contact with said muscle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said electrical impulse has an amplitude, a frequency, and a duty cycle governed by parameters set by said processor, and wherein at least one of said amplitude and said frequency and said duty cycle are varied during treatment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said electrical impulse acts upon one or more muscle spindles located within said muscle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said electrical impulse acts upon one or more gamma neurons located within said muscle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein said electrical impulse decreases a level of activity of said one or more gamma neurons. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein said electrical impulse acts upon one or more afferent neurons located within said muscle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein said stimulating electrical impulse decreases the level of activity of said one or more afferent neurons. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein said stimulating electrical impulse alters or inhibits at least one neural signal transmitted to a central nervous system by said one or more afferent neurons. ### Claim 21 A system for treating focal dystonia comprising an electrode configured to deliver an electrical impulse to a muscle, said electrode being in communication with a processor configured to set one or more stimulation parameters governing said electrical impulse, wherein said processor is adapted to cause said electrical impulse to deliver a level of stimulation to a muscle placed in communication with said electrode, said level of stimulation being below an excitability threshold of alpha neurons innervating said muscle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein said electrical impulse has an amplitude, a frequency, and a duty cycle governed by said parameters, and wherein at least one of said amplitude and said frequency and said duty cycle are varied during treatment. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein said electrical impulse is adapted to act upon one or more muscle spindles located within said muscle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein said electrical impulse is adapted to act upon one or more gamma neurons located within said muscle. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24 wherein said electrical impulse is adapted to decrease the level of activity of said one or more gamma neurons. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 wherein said electrical impulse is adapted to act upon one or more afferent neurons located within said muscle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26 wherein said electrical impulse is adapted to decrease the level of activity of said one or more afferent neurons. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26 wherein said electrical impulse is adapted to inhibit at least one neural signal transmitted to a central nervous system by said one or more afferent neurons.