Closed-loop feedback for steering stimulation energy within tissue

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9248280-B2
Application number	US-98270407-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2007
Priority date	Nov 2, 2007
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

Methods, systems, and external programmers provide therapy to a patient having a dysfunction. In one aspect, electrical energy is conveyed between electrodes to create a stimulation region in tissue adjacent the electrodes. Physiological information from the patient is acquired and analyzed, and a locus of the stimulation region is electronically displaced relative to the tissue based on the analysis of the acquired physiological information. In another aspect, electrical energy is delivered to tissue of the patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. A cognitive brain signals is sensed and analyzed, and the stimulation parameter(s) are modified based on the analysis of the cognitive brain signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A neurostimulation system, comprising:
a plurality of electrical terminals configured for being electrically coupled to a plurality of electrodes;
output stimulation circuitry configured for conveying electrical energy between the electrodes, thereby creating a stimulation region in tissue of a patient when the electrodes are located adjacent the tissue;
monitoring circuitry configured for sensing a cognitive brain signal; and
control circuitry configured for analyzing the sensed cognitive brain signal and for controlling the output stimulation circuitry to displace a locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue based on the analysis of the sensed cognitive brain signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output stimulation circuitry is configured for conveying the electrical energy between the electrical terminals to change the status of a dysfunction suffered by the patient, and the sensed cognitive brain signal is indicative of the changed status of the dysfunction.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensed cognitive brain signal is indicative of a desire of the patient to displace the locus of the stimulation region.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured for automatically controlling the output stimulation circuitry to displace the locus of the stimulation region in response to a change in the sensed cognitive brain signal.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output stimulation circuitry is configured for conveying the electrical energy between the electrodes in accordance with a single timing channel to create the stimulation region, and the control circuitry is configured for controlling the output stimulation circuitry to displace the locus of the stimulation region by modifying an electrode combination for the single timing channel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output stimulation circuitry is configured for conveying the electrical energy between the electrodes in accordance with a single timing channel to create the stimulation region, and the control circuitry is configured for controlling the output stimulation circuitry to displace the locus of the stimulation region by shifting electrical current between at least two of the electrodes for the single timing channel.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output stimulation circuitry is configured for conveying the electrical energy between the electrodes in accordance with a plurality of timing channels to create the stimulation region, and the control circuitry is configured for controlling the output stimulation circuitry to displace the locus of the stimulation region by modifying the relative magnitude of the electrical energy conveyed in accordance with the timing channels.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a case, wherein the electrical terminals and output stimulation circuitry are contained in the case to form a neurostimulator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the monitoring circuitry is contained within the case.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is contained within the case.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the neurostimulator is implantable.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured for identifying changes in amplitude in components of a spectrum of the sensed cognitive brain signal.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the spectrum of the sensed cognitive brain signals comprises one or more of μ, β, and γ rhythms.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more of μ, β, and γ rhythms comprises a γ rhythm.

15. A method of providing therapy to a patient using the neurostimulation system of claim 1 , comprising:
conveying via the output circuitry electrical energy between electrodes to create the stimulation region in the tissue adjacent the electrodes;
sensing via the monitoring circuitry the cognitive brain signal;
analyzing via the control circuitry the sensed cognitive brain signal and to automatically displacing a locus of the stimulation region relative to the tissue based on the analysis of the sensed cognitive brain signal.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tissue is brain tissue.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the brain tissue is cortical brain tissue.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the patient suffers from a dysfunction, and the electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes to change the status of the dysfunction.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the dysfunction is a neurological disorder.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the sensed cognitive brain signal is indicative of the changed status of the dysfunction.

21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the sensed cognitive brain signal is indicative of a desire of the patient to displace the locus of the stimulation region.

22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the locus of the stimulation region is automatically displaced in response to a change in the sensed cognitive brain signal.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes in accordance with a single timing channel to create the stimulation region, and the locus of the stimulation region is automatically displaced by modifying an electrode combination for the single timing channel.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes in accordance with a single timing channel to create the stimulation region, and the locus of the stimulation region is automatically displaced by shifting electrical current between at least two of the electrodes for the single timing channel.

25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the electrical energy is conveyed between the electrodes in accordance with a plurality of timing channels to create the stimulation region, and the locus of the stimulation region is automatically displaced by modifying the relative magnitude of the electrical energy conveyed in accordance with the timing channels.

26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the cognitive brain signal is an EEG or ECoG signal obtained from a brain region that can be correlated to intentions of the patient.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the brain region controls imagery of certain actions.

28. The method of claim 15 , further comprising identifying changes in amplitude in components of a spectrum of the sensed cognitive brain signal.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the spectrum of the sensed cognitive brain signals comprises one or more of μ, β, and γ rhythms.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the one or more of μ, β, and γ rhythms comprises a γ rhythm.

Assignees

• Moffitt Michael Adam
• Peterson David K L
• Meadows Paul Milton
• Boston Scient Neuromodulation

Inventors

• Moffitt Michael Adam
• Peterson David K L
• Meadows Paul Milton

Classifications

• A61N1/36067

  Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease (stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003) · CPC title

• A61N1/36185

  Selection of the electrode configuration · CPC title

• A61N1/36082

  Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease · CPC title

• A61N1/36189

  using modulation techniques · CPC title

• A61N1/0531

  Brain cortex electrodes · CPC title