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US 8,150,524 B2Granted
Selective neurostimulation for treating epilepsy
AssigneeCyberonics, Inc.
InventorsSteven E. Maschino, Stephen Brannan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and device for treating epilepsy are disclosed which provide for electrical, chemical or magnetic stimulation of certain areas of the brain to modulate neuronal activity of areas associated with symptoms of epilepsy. Deep brain stimulation is combined with vagus nerve stimulation to enhance symptomatic relief of the disorder. Some embodiments also employ a sensing capability to optimize the therapeutic treatment regimen.
Claims20
A method of treating an individual suffering from epilepsy, the method comprising:
- applying a first stimulation signal to a first stimulator configured to be coupled to a stimulation site comprising a volume of neural tissue in an area of the individual's brain selected from the group consisting of insula, subcallosal area, cingulate, thalamus, prefrontal cerebral cortex, mesial temporal lobe, cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, brain stem, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, Wernicke's area, area tempestas, basal ganglia, globus pallidus, superior colliculus, striatum, ventral striatum, ventral pallidum, caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, ventral tegmentum, Brodmann areas 24, 25, 32, piriform cortex, ventricular region, ventral pallidum, and forebrain circumventricular organs, reticulate substantia innominata, rostral midbrain, red nucleus, periaqueductal gray, and white matter tracts leading to an aforementioned area or nucleus, wherein the first stimulation signal causes modulation of the neuronal activity of neural tissue in said selected area of the brain;
- applying a second stimulation signal to a second stimulator configured to be coupled to a site on the vagus nerve of the individual such that said second stimulation signal causes modulation of the neuronal activity in said vagus nerve, wherein said first and/or second stimulation signal causes modulation of neuronal activity in at least one brain area of said individual different than said area coupled to said first stimulator, and wherein said combination of modulations attenuate at least one epilepsy symptom and/or deter recurrence of an epileptic event;
- after applying the first stimulation signal to the selected area of the brain, sensing neuronal activity in the selected area of the brain with at least one first sensor;
- after applying the second stimulation signal to the vagus nerve, sensing neuronal activity in the different area of the brain with at least one second sensor;
- and
- based on data collected from the sensing in at least the different area of the brain, adapting a stimulation parameter of the first and/or second stimulation signal to increase the attenuation of at least one epilepsy symptom and/or the deterrence of an epileptic event for a subsequent combination of modulations.
3 more elements
A method of treating an individual suffering from epilepsy, the method comprising:
- applying a first stimulation signal to a first stimulator configured to be coupled to a stimulation site comprising a volume of neural tissue in an area of the individual's brain selected from the group consisting of insula, subcallosal area, cingulate, thalamus, prefrontal cerebral cortex, mesial temporal lobe, cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, brain stem, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, Wernicke's area, area tempestas, basal ganglia, globus pallidus, superior colliculus, striatum, ventral striatum, ventral pallidum, caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, ventral tegmentum, Brodmann areas 24, 25, 32, piriform cortex, ventricular region, ventral pallidum, and forebrain circumventricular organs, reticulate substantia innominata, rostral midbrain, red nucleus, periaqueductal gray, and white matter tracts leading to an aforementioned area or nucleus, wherein the first stimulation signal causes modulation of the neuronal activity of neural tissue in said selected area of the brain;
- applying a second stimulation signal to a second stimulator configured to be coupled to a site on the vagus nerve of the individual such that said second stimulation signal causes modulation of the neuronal activity in said vagus nerve, wherein said first and/or second stimulation signal causes modulation of neuronal activity in at least one brain area of said individual different than said area coupled to said first stimulator, and wherein said combination of modulations attenuate at least one epilepsy symptom and/or deter recurrence of an epileptic event;
- after applying the second stimulation signal to the vagus nerve, sensing neuronal activity in the selected area of the brain or the different area of the brain with at least one sensor;
- and
- based on data collected from the sensing and using a controller coupled to the sensor and to the first or second stimulator, adapting a stimulation parameter of the first or second stimulation signal to increase the attenuation of at least one epilepsy symptom and/or the deterrence of an epileptic event for a subsequent combination of modulations.
2 more elements
A method of treating an individual suffering from epilepsy, the method comprising:
- applying a first stimulation signal to a first stimulator configured to be coupled to a stimulation site comprising a volume of neural tissue in an area of the individual's brain selected from the group consisting of insula, subcallosal area, cingulate, thalamus, prefrontal cerebral cortex, mesial temporal lobe, cerebellum, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, brain stem, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, frontal lobe, parietal lobe, Wernicke's area, area tempestas, basal ganglia, globus pallidus, superior colliculus, striatum, ventral striatum, ventral pallidum, caudate nucleus, putamen, nucleus accumbens, substantia nigra, ventral tegmentum, Brodmann areas 24, 25, 32, piriform cortex, ventricular region, ventral pallidum, and forebrain circumventricular organs, reticulate substantia innominata, rostral midbrain, red nucleus, periaqueductal gray, and white matter tracts leading to an aforementioned area or nucleus, wherein the first stimulation signal causes modulation of the neuronal activity of neural tissue in said selected area of the brain;
- applying a second stimulation signal to a second stimulator configured to be coupled to a site on the vagus nerve of the individual such that said second stimulation signal causes modulation of the neuronal activity in said vagus nerve, wherein said first and/or second stimulation signal causes modulation of neuronal activity in at least one brain area of said individual different than said area coupled to said first stimulator, and wherein said combination of modulations attenuate at least one epilepsy symptom and/or deter recurrence of an epileptic event;
- after applying the first stimulation signal to the selected area of the brain and after applying the second stimulation signal to the vagus nerve, sensing neuronal activity in the selected area of the brain or the different area of the brain with at least one sensor;
- and
- based on data collected from the sensing, adapting a stimulation parameter of the first and/or second stimulation signal to increase the attenuation of at least one epilepsy symptom and/or the deterrence of an epileptic event for a subsequent combination of modulations.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.