Non-regular electrical stimulation patterns for treating neurological disorders
AssigneeDuke University
InventorsWarren M. Grill, JR., Alan D. Dorval, II, Robert Strother
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue generate stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide a lower average frequency.
Claims25
A system for neurological tissue stimulation comprising:
- an electrode implantable in a targeted tissue;
- a pulse generator operably coupled to the electrode, wherein the pulse generator applies electrical stimulation, the electrical stimulation comprising:
- a waveform shape, wherein the waveform shape is derived based upon a limitation of the pulse generator;
- and
- a temporal pattern of stimulation comprising a repeating succession of non-regular pulse trains, each pulse train comprising a plurality of pulses having non-regular, non-random, differing inter-pulse intervals therebetween, the pulse train repeating in succession to treat a neurological symptom.
A method of treating a neurological condition, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a waveform shape based upon a system constraint of a pulse generator;
- and
- applying a temporal pattern of stimulation to a targeted neurological tissue region using the pulse generator, the temporal pattern of stimulation comprising a plurality of pulses having non-regular, non-random, differing inter-pulse intervals therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.