Improving brain stimulation’s efficacy and efficiency: Key neurotechnology patent #32
Today we highlight a key brain stimulation patent assigned to Advanced Neuromodulation Systems. (As mentioned, we are featuring a foundational Pervasive Neurotech patent a day, from older to newer by issue date)
U.S. Patent No. 7,483,747: Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy.
- Assignee(s): Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
- Inventor(s): Bradford Evan Gliner, Allen Wyler, Brad Fowler, W. Douglas Sheffield, Richard Kuntz, Kent Leyde, Leif R. Sloan
- Technology Category: Transcranial Stimulation
- Issue Date: January 27, 2009
SharpBrains’ Take:
The ‘747 patent discloses methods for improving efficacy and efficiency of brain stimulation by providing two distinct phases of electromagnetic stimulation that vary from one another in parameters such as time of stimulation, amplitude of signal, location of treatment, frequency of pulse, etc. Varying parameters between the phases can improve treatment of a neurological condition or save on the device’s power consumption. Conserving power consumption results in increased battery life and fewer disruptions to patient treatments. An extensive specification with 19 pages of written material and 29 illustration sheets suggests ample support and contribute to a broad interpretation of terms (such as how “electromagnetic stimulation” might be construed) in claims possessing robust coverage of the inventive concepts.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system and/or method may apply electromagnetic stimulation to a patient’s nervous system over a first time domain according to a first set of stimulation parameters, and over a second time domain according to a second set of stimulation parameters. The first and second time domains may be sequential, simultaneous, or nested. Stimulation parameters may vary in accordance with one or more types of duty cycle, amplitude, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, spatiotemporal, and/or polarity variations. Stimulation may be applied at subthreshold, threshold, and/or suprathreshold levels in one or more periodic, aperiodic (e.g., chaotic), and/or pseudo-random manners. In some embodiments stimulation may comprise a burst pattern having an interburst frequency corresponding to an intrinsic brainwave frequency, and regular and/or varying intraburst stimulation parameters. Stimulation signals providing reduced power consumption with at least adequate symptomatic relief may be applied prior to moderate or significant power source depletion.
Illustrative Claim 1. A method for treating a neurological condition of a patient, comprising:
- applying electromagnetic signals to a patient’s nervous system over a first time period with a first waveform having a first set of parameters; and
- applying electromagnetic signals to the patient’s nervous system over a second time period with a second waveform having a second set of parameters, wherein at least one parameter of the second set is different than a corresponding parameter of the first set, and wherein the at least one parameter is selected to resume, at least approximately maintain, or resume and at least approximately maintain a therapeutic benefit resulting from signals applied during the first time period.
To learn more about market data, trends and leading companies in the digital brain health space –digital platforms for brain/ cognitive assessment, monitoring and enhancement– check out this market report. To learn more about our analysis of 10,000+ patent filings, check out this IP & innovation neurotech report.