Selective brain stimulation using conditioning pulses
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorJan Holsheimer
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Abstract
Methods of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain are disclosed. A first electrode is placed in close proximity with tissue of a patient's brain (e.g., in the brain, or on or near the surface of the brain). A hyperpolariziag electrical pre-pulse is applied to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation. A subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse is applied to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
Claims51
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of electrical pulses;
- providing a first electrode;
- providing an electrical return path;
- connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;
- placing the first electrode in tissue of a patient's brain;
- applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of electrical pulses;
- providing a first electrode;
- providing an electrical return path;
- connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;
- placing the first electrode in tissue of a patient's brain;
- applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of electrical pulses;
- providing a first electrode;
- providing an electrical return path;
- connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;
- placing the first electrode on the surface of a patient's brain;
- applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of electrical pulses;
- providing a first electrode;
- providing an electrical return path;
- connecting the first electrode to the source of electrical pulses;
- placing the first electrode on the surface of a patient's brain;
- applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of electrical pulses;
- providing a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from the first electrode and a third electrode spaced from the first electrode opposite the second electrode so that the first electrode is generally between the second and third electrodes;
- providing an electrical return path;
- connecting the first, second and third electrodes to the source of electrical pulses;
- placing the first, second and third electrodes within a patient's body in a patient's brain;
- applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a depolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the second and third electrodes wherein the tissue near the second and third electrodes is less susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue near the first electrode.
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- placing a first electrode In tissue of a patient's brain;
- applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- and
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
A method of electrically stimulating neural tissue of the brain comprising the steps of:
- placing a first electrode in close proximity with tissue of a patient's brain;
- applying a hyperpolarizing electrical pre-pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein the tissue is more susceptible to subsequent electric stimulation;
- applying a subsequent depolarizing electrical pulse to the tissue through the first electrode wherein an action potential is generated in the tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.