Method and apparatus for focusing electrical stimulation in the brain during electro-convulsive therapy
AssigneeMecta Corporation
InventorHarold A. Sackeim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ECT system capable of focusing the electrical signals on a specific portion of the patient's brain is provided. The ECT system includes a means of applying unidirectional electrical signals and asymmetric electrodes for focusing the signals on the patient. A method of titrating an electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) system and a method of operating an ECT system are also provided. The method includes setting an initial current value, administering an ECT signal to the patient, determining if the seizure threshold has been achieved, and repeating as necessary until the seizure threshold is achieved.
Claims20
A system for inducing seizures in a patient using electro-convulsive therapy (ECT), comprising:
- a first electrode structured to contact a scalp of the patient to facilitate delivering an electro-convulsive stimulus to the scalp of the patient, the first electrode having a first area;
- a second electrode structured to contact the scalp of the patient to facilitate delivering the electro-convulsive stimulus to the scalp of the patient, the second electrode having an area different than the first area;
- circuitry that applies an electrical signal to the first and second electrodes that applies the seizure-inducing, electro-convulsive stimulus to the patient;
- and
- a current controller structured to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical signal based on input from an operator.
A system for inducing seizures by delivering focused electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) to a patient, the system comprising:
- a two-electrode stimulus delivery system consisting of a first electrode and a second electrode, including:
- the first electrode having a non-circular shape and structured to be applied to a first portion of a scalp of a patient to facilitate delivering a seizure-inducing, electro-convulsive stimulus to the patient, the first electrode having a first area, and
- the second electrode having a circular shape and structured to be applied to a portion anterior to the first portion of the scalp of the patient to facilitate delivering the electro-convulsive stimulus to the patient, the second electrode having a second area different than the first area;
- and
- circuitry that generates an electrical signal for transmission between the first and second electrodes that applies the seizure-inducing, electro-convulsive stimulus to the skull of the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.