US 6,484,059 B2 · Method for optimized brain stimulation for treating movement disorders

Abstract

There is provided apparatus and a method for testing to optimally place a deep brain lead, particularly for stimulating the GPi or other deep brain target to treat neurological disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and the like. The invention embraces determining the location of a feedback target such as the motor cortex, the location of the deep brain target, and inserting a test lead along a substantially linear trajectory so as to be able to stimulate both concurrently. The test lead has an electrode at about its distal end for stimulation of the deep brain target, and an electrode adjustably positioned 3-8 cm proximal for stimulation of the motor cortex. When stimulation is applied concurrently through both electrodes, the affected body portion, e.g., limb, can be made to move when and if the deep brain electrode is optimally positioned. The position can be checked during surgical implant of the system, and the lead position adjusted until the optimum position is found. By use of this invention, the best lead position for the permanently implanted lead can be determined during the surgical procedure.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method of testing to determine postioning of a brain stimulation lead for optimal deep brain stimulation to treat a movement disorder, said lead having MC electrode means for delivering stimulation to the motor cortex and DBS electrode means for delivering stimulation to a predetermined deep brain target, said method being carried out while said patient is under surgery for implantation of said lead, comprising:

positioning said lead along a substantially linear trajectory which includes both the patient's motor cortex and said predetermined deep brain target;
stimulating said motor cortex and said deep brain target concurrently, and observing movement of a predetermined body part corresponding to said disorder;
and
adjusting said lead to stimulate said deep brain target at a location which provides optimal stimulation for movement of said body part.

1 more element

A method of testing to determine the optimal location of a deep brain target for stimulation of said target so as to treat a neurological disorder affecting a body part, said method comprising use of test lead means for delivering respective stimulation to a predetermined patient feedback target as well as to said deep brain target, comprising:

positioning said test lead means within a patient's skull so that stimulation can be delivered concurrently to each of said targets;
generating first stimulation pulses and connecting said first stimulation pulses to said test lead means so as to stimulate said feedback target, and concurrently generating DBS stimulation pulses and connecting said DBS stimulation pulses to said test lead means so as to stimulate said deep brain target;
determining the movement of said body part during said concurrent stimulating;
adjusting the position of said lead means relative to said deep brain target, so as to change the efficiency of stimulation of said deep brain target, and observing the resulting movement of said body part;
and
determining the optimal deep brain target location by determining when said concurrent stimulation evokes the best response of said body part.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for optimized brain stimulation for treating movement disorders

Life of this patent

Method for optimized brain stimulation for treating movement disorders

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9