Controlling a subject's susceptibility to a seizure

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to neurological disease and, more particularly, to intracranial stimulation for optimal control of movement disorders and other neurological disease.

#2. Related Art

#The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention implanted bilaterally in a human patient.

#FIG. 2 is an architectural block diagram of one embodiment of the neurological control system of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the intracranial stimulator of the present invention implanted bilaterally in a human patient. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, two neurological control systems 999 are shown implanted bilaterally. Each system 999 includes a stimulating and recording unit 26 and one or more intracranial components described below. As described in this illustrative embodiment, the intracranial components preferably include a stimulating electrode array 37. However, it should become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reading the present disclosure that the stimulating electrodes may also be extracranial; that is, attached to a peripheral nerve in addition to or in place of being located within the cranium. As shown in FIG. 1, stimulating and recording unit 26 of each neurological control system 999 is preferably implanted contralateral to the intracranial components of the device.

#As one skilled in the relevant art would find apparent from the following description, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1 is just one example of the present invention. Many other configurations are contemplated. For example, in alternative embodiments of the present invention, the stimulating and recording unit 26 is implanted ipsilateral or bilateral to the intracranial components. It should also be understood that the stimulating and recording unit 26 can receive ipsilateral, contralateral or bilateral inputs from sensors and deliver ipsilateral, contralateral, or bilateral outputs to a single or a plurality of intracranial stimulating electrode arrays 37. Preferably, these inputs are direct or preamplified signals from at least one of EMG electrode array 50, EEG electrode array 51, Accelerometer Array 52, Acoustic Transducer Array 53, Peripheral Nerve Electrode Array 54, and Intracranial Recording Electrode Array 38. The signals input from these sensors will be referred to herein as “sensory input modalities” 247. The outputs include but are not limited to one or more stimulating current signals or stimulating voltage signals to Intracranial Stimulating Electrode Array 37.

#In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the two unilateral systems 26 are shown to receive sensory inputs from the side contralateral as well as the intracranial stimulating electrode arrays 37. In the illustrative embodiment, systems 26 also receive sensory inputs from intracranial recording electrode arrays 38. As will become apparent from the following description, intracranial recording electrode arrays 38 may provide valuable feedback information.