Methods and apparatus for effectuating a lasting change in a neural-function of a patient

Abstract

The present disclosure suggests methods of selecting a stimulation site for stimulating a patient's brain or methods of effectuating a neural-function of a patient associated with an impaired body function. In one exemplary implementation, such a neural function may be effectuated by selecting a stimulation site, positioning at least a first electrode at the stimulation site, and applying an electrical potential to pass a current through the first electrode. If one aspect, this stimulation site may be selected by a) identifying a second body function that is a corollary to the impaired body function, and b) determining a corollary location of the patient's brain that is associated with the second body function and is ipsilateral to the impaired body function.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 260,720, filed on Sep. 27, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 60 / 325,872 filed on Sep. 28, 2001 and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 802,808, filed on Mar. 8, 2001, which, in turn, claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 217,981, filed Jul. 31, 2000. Each of these applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]Several embodiments of methods and apparatus in accordance with the invention are related to electrically stimulating a region in the cortex or other area of the brain to bring about a lasting change in a physiological function and / or a mental process of a patient.BACKGROUND[0003]A wide variety of mental and physical processes are controlled or influenced by neural activity in particular regions of the brain. The neural-functions in some areas of the ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Many problems or abnormalities can be caused by damage, disease and / or disorders in the brain.

Effectively treating such abnormalities may be very difficult.

Such events generally result in a loss or impairment of a neural function (e.g., neural functions related to facial muscles, limbs, speech, etc.).

For most patients, however, such treatments are minimally effective and little can be done to improve the function of an affected body part beyond the recovery that occurs naturally without intervention.

Although electrical or magnetic stimulation of neural tissue may be directed toward producing an intended type of therapeutic, rehabilitative, or restorative neural activity, such stimulation may result in collateral neural activity.

It will be appreciated that collateral neural activity may be undesirable and / or inconvenient in a neural stimulation situation.

Damage to the cortex in one hemisphere may impact the contralateral homotopic cortex in a variety of fashions, including causing increased cortical thickness, dendritic growth and / or elimination, neuronal hyperexcitability, and synaptogenesis.

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