# US 9,872,996 B2 · System and method for transcranial current loop brain stimulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,872,996 B2 - Document ID: US9872996B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/595,118 - Filed: 2015-01-12 - Published: 2016-07-14 - Granted: 2018-01-23 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-12 - Applicants: James William Phillips - Inventors: James William Phillips - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872996B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/3787: {from an external energy source} - A61N 1/0531: {Brain cortex electrodes} - A61N 1/3606: {adapted for a particular treatment} - A61N 1/36064: {Epilepsy} - A61N 1/36067: {Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease (stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003)} - A61N 1/36071: {Pain} - A61N 1/36075: {Headache or migraine} - A61N 1/36103: {Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke} - A61N 1/36139: {with automatic adjustment} - A61N 1/36171: {Frequency} - A61N 1/0529: {Electrodes for brain stimulation} - A61N 1/0534: {Electrodes for deep brain stimulation} - A61N 1/36082: {Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A method and device is described, which provides electrical stimulation to the brain of a person, where the device comprises an external portion and at least one implantable portion. The external portion provides the energy source for stimulation to the implantable portions. The implantable portions provide at least two conductive paths through the skull and use the skull's high impedance to generate a current loop with the focus of stimulation lying in the current path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for electrical stimulation of a person's brain, the device comprising: a first conductor implantable through the person's skull at a first location and configured to have a subcutaneous portion over the skull and a suberanial portion which at least partially penetrates the skull to electrically couple with the brain; a second conductor implantable through the person's skull at a second location spaced-apart from the first location and configured to have a subcutaneous portion over the skull and a subcranial portion which at least partially penetrates the skull to electrically couple with the brain; an alternating current generator coupled to one of the first and second conductors, wherein the first and second conductors provide a conductive path through the skull in said two locations and the skull's high impedance completes a current loop which allows current to flow interior and exterior to the skull and through at least one stimulation target, wherein the first conductor comprises one implantable portion with a conductive coil and the second conductor comprises one implantable portion without a conductive coil, wherein the implantable portion without the conductive coil provides a conductive path through the skull. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the alternating current generator comprises a pulse generator coupled to at least one of the conductors, wherein the pulse generator transfers energy to the coil through conduction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the alternating current generator operates at a frequency between 1 Hz and 20 Hz. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the alternating current generator operates at a frequency between 20 Hz and 100 Hz. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein the alternating current generator operates at a frequency between 100 Hz and 500 Hz. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, where the alternating current generator operates at a frequency between 500 Hz and 5000 Hz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the alternating current generator operates at a frequency greater than 5000 Hz. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the coil is configured to lie over the skull and beneath the scalp and is attached to one of the conductors which is configured to at least partially penetrate the skull through a burr hole with a subcranial electrode at or near a distal tip thereof and wherein another of the conductors is configured to have a proximal end which lies over the skull and beneath the scalp and at least partially penetrate the skull through a burr hole with a subcranial electrode at or near a distal tip thereof, further including a resistive barrier surrounding the conductor attached to the coil and configured to fill the burr hole such that electric current is not allowed to shunt between the subcranial electrode and the external portion of the conductor when current flows between the two conductors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a conductive wire that connects the subcutaneous portions of the conductors together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the current generator comprises a permanent magnet rotating in close proximity to the conductive coil. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the current generator comprises two permanent magnets each rotating in close proximity to a conductive end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising circuitry to limit the maximum current delivered to the person. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an AC to DC converter. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an DC to AC converter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage module, a current or voltage gating means, and control logic in order to deliver current pulses. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker or vibration means to indicate to the person or caregiver when the external portion is positioned correctly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an EEG recording means. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the EEG recording is transmitted by at least one implantable portion wirelessly through the coil and is received by an external portion comprising a conductive coil and a recording means. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the EEG recording is transmitted by encoding the information in the gated electrical pulses which are sensed by electrodes placed on the skin of the person.