Patent US5938688A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5938688A
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Deep brain stimulation method
Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1997-12-04
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Granted: 1999-08-17
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Expires: 2017-12-04
Abstract
Abstract The present subject matter is directed to a method for treating a conscious. The method includes selecting a conscious patient having impaired cognitive function and applying electrical stimulation to at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei under conditions effective to relieve the patient's impaired cognitive function. A method for improving coordination of function across a patient's cortical regions is also described. The method includes applying electrical stimulation to two or more subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei. The two or more subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei modulate separate cortical regions. Using the methods of the present invention, patients suffering from impaired cognitive function can have at least a portion of the function restored, thus improving their quality of life and reducing societal costs.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas D. Schiff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/3605; A61N1/3606; A61N1/36082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for treating a conscious patient having impaired cognitive function, said method comprising: selecting a conscious patient with impaired cognitive function; and applying electrical stimulation from a source to at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei under conditions, including frequency, voltage, and pulse width, effective to relieve the patient's impaired cognitive function.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for treating a conscious patient having impaired cognitive function, said method comprising: selecting a conscious patient with impaired cognitive function; and applying electrical stimulation from a source to at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei under conditions, including frequency, voltage, and pulse width, effective to relieve the patient's impaired cognitive function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the impaired cognitive function is accompanied by chronic pain in the patient and said applying electrical stimulation relieves the chronic pain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the impaired cognitive function is accompanied by generalized seizures in the patient and said applying electrical stimulation relieves the generalized seizures.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the impaired cognitive function is accompanied by chronic pain and generalized seizures in the patient and said applying electrical stimulation relieves the chronic pain and generalized seizures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is not directed to the patient's centromedian-parafasicularis or the central lateral.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is modulated externally of the patient.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the cognitive function impairment exhibits spontaneous fluctuation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is directed to the patient's paralamellar regions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is applied only to the at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the impaired cognitive function involves a deficit of attention, intention, working memory, or awareness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the patient's impaired cognitive function results from a brain injury produced by stroke, blunt head trauma, missile penetration, toxicological agents, anoxia, ischemia, nutritional deficiencies, developmental diseases, degenerative diseases, infectious diseases, neoplastic diseases, or complications thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said method involves treating a specific cognitive function impairment and further comprises: identifying a subdivision of the patient's intralaminar nuclei which modulates the specific cognitive function, and wherein said applying electrical stimulation is directed to at least the selected subdivision.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is directed only to the selected subdivision.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said identifying comprises: locating an area of the brain having reduced baseline function; and correlating an intralaminar nuclei subdivision in the patient to the area of the brain having reduced baseline function, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is performed on the intralaminar nuclei subdivision correlated to the area of the brain having reduced baseline function.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein the area of the brain having reduced baseline function exhibits increased function during periods of patient activity.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is directed only to the intralaminar nuclei subdivision correlated to the area of the brain having reduced baseline function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 14, wherein said determining is carried out metabolically, physiologically, or anatomically.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying electrical stimulation comprises: contracting the at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei with an electrode under conditions, including frequency, voltage, and pulse width, effective to deliver an electrical signal from a source to the at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 18 further comprising: delivering pharmacological agents to the at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is continuous.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is intermittent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is periodic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is directed to two or more subdivisions of the intralaminar nuclei which modulate separate cortical regions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is periodic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is synchronized when directed to two or more subdivisions of the intralaminar nuclei.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the two or more subdivisions of the intralaminar nuclei lies in the right thalamus and at least one of the two or more subdivisions of the intralaminar nuclei lies in the left thalamus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein the patient has a specific cognitive function impairment and wherein at least one of the two or more subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei modulates the specific cognitive function.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 23, wherein the patient has a specific cognitive function impairment to be treated and wherein at least two of the two or more subdivisions of the intralaminar nuclei modulates the specific cognitive function.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim I further comprising: contacting the at least a portion of the patient's intralaminar nuclei with a pharmacological agent selected from a group consisting of an excitatory neurotransmitter and an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation is modulated internally of the patient.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for improving coordination of function across cortical regions in a patient comprising: applying electrical stimulation to at least two subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei, wherein the at least two subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei modulate separate cortical regions.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for improving coordination of function across cortical regions in a patient comprising: applying electrical stimulation to at least two subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei, wherein the at least two subdivisions of the patient's intralaminar nuclei modulate separate cortical regions.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is synchronized.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 31, wherein said applying electrical stimulation is periodic.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5269303A
Cited
US5611350A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-16 | 2003-02-15 | 2003-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-16 | 2007-02-15 | 2007-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-16 | 2011-02-15 | 2011-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |