Patent US5978702A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5978702A
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US
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Techniques of treating epilepsy by brain stimulation and drug infusion
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1997-10-24
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Granted: 1999-11-02
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Expires: 2017-10-24
Abstract
Abstract Techniques using one or more drugs and electrical stimulation for treating a neurological disorder, including epilepsy, by means of an implantable signal generator and electrode and an implantable pump and catheter. A sensor is used to detect a seizure or symptoms resulting from the onset of a seizure. A microprocessor algorithm analyzes the output from the sensor in order to regulate the stimulation and drug dosage delivered to the neural tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott R. Ward
- 👤 Mark T. Rise
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/14; A61M5/142; A61M5/14244; A61M5/14276; A61M5/168; A61M5/172; A61M5/1723; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/06; A61M2210/0693
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of using at least one drug to treat epilepsy by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said at least one drug, said method comprising the steps of: surgically implanting said catheter in the brain so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in the brain, wherein said predetermined infusion site is selected from the group consisting of the seizure focus, anterior thalamus, ventrolateral thalamus (Thal), internal segment of globus pallidus (GPi), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), subthalamic nucleus (STN), external segment of globus pallidus (GPe), and neostriatum; and operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said at least one drug through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site, whereby a neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
143 words
A method of using at least one drug to treat epilepsy by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said at least one drug, said method comprising the steps of: surgically implanting said catheter in the brain so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in the brain, wherein said predetermined infusion site is selected from the group consisting of the seizure focus, anterior thalamus, ventrolateral thalamus (Thal), internal segment of globus pallidus (GPi), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), subthalamic nucleus (STN), external segment of globus pallidus (GPe), and neostriatum; and operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said at least one drug through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site, whereby a neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one drug increases excitation or deceases inhibition of at least one of said ventrolateral thalamus (Thal) and external segment of globus pallidus (GPe).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one drug increases inhibition or decreases excitation of at least one of said anterior thalamus, internal segment of globus pallidus (GPi), substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and subthalamic nucleus (STN).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is selected from the group consisting of a glutamate antagonist, a glutamate agonist, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, a dopamine (DA) agonist and an anesthetic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising the steps of: generating a sensor signal in response to a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure; and altering said operation of said pump in response to said sensor signal for changing said predetermined dosage.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of treating a neurological disorder producing a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure, comprising: implanting a signal generator in a body; implanting at least one electrode in at least one predetermined site in a brain of said body; coupling said at least one electrode to said signal generator; generating a sensor signal responsive to said condition resulting from an onset of a seizure; generating stimulation pulses with said signal generator; and regulating at least one characteristic of said stimulation pulses in response to said sensor signal, whereby said neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of treating a neurological disorder producing a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure, comprising: implanting a signal generator in a body; implanting at least one electrode in at least one predetermined site in a brain of said body; coupling said at least one electrode to said signal generator; generating a sensor signal responsive to said condition resulting from an onset of a seizure; generating stimulation pulses with said signal generator; and regulating at least one characteristic of said stimulation pulses in response to said sensor signal, whereby said neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said predetermined site is selected from the group consisting of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), external segment of globus pallidus (GPe), and substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of generating a sensor signal comprises the step of detecting neuronal activity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said step of regulating comprises the step of executing a control algorithm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one characteristic includes a pulse amplitude.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one characteristic includes a pulse frequency.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one characteristic includes a pulse width.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method, as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one characteristic includes a pulse amplitude, a pulse frequency, and a pulse width.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one characteristic includes pulse amplitude, a pulse frequency, and a pulse width.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for using one or more drugs to treat a neurological disorder producing a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure comprising in combination: an implantable pump; a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion adapted to infuse a predetermined dosage of said one or more drugs into a predetermined infusion site in a brain; a sensor for generating a sensor signal responsive to said condition resulting from the onset of a seizure; and control means responsive to said sensor signal for determining the onset of a seizure and for regulating said dosage, whereby said neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for using one or more drugs to treat a neurological disorder producing a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure comprising in combination: an implantable pump; a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion adapted to infuse a predetermined dosage of said one or more drugs into a predetermined infusion site in a brain; a sensor for generating a sensor signal responsive to said condition resulting from the onset of a seizure; and control means responsive to said sensor signal for determining the onset of a seizure and for regulating said dosage, whereby said neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said sensor comprises means for detecting neuronal activity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said control means comprises a microprocessor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system, as claimed in claim 15, wherein said control means comprises an electrical filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
A system, as claimed in claim 15, and further comprising: a signal generator for generating stimulation pulses; and one or more electrodes responsive to said stimulation pulses for electrically stimulating said predetermined infusion site, whereby said neurological disorder is treated by drug infusion and electrical stimulation, wherein said control means is responsive to said sensor signal for regulating said dosage and said stimulation pulses.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for using at least one drug to treat a neurological disorder producing a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure comprising in combination: an implantable pump; a signal generator for generating stimulation pulses; a combined catheter-electrode having a proximal end coupled to said pump and said signal generator and a distal end adapted to infuse a predetermined dosage of at least one drug into a predetermined infusion site in a brain, said distal end also having at least one electrode responsive to said stimulation pulses for electrically stimulating said predetermined infusion site; a sensor for generating a sensor signal responsive to said condition resulting from the onset of a seizure and having means for detecting neuronal activity; and control means responsive to said sensor signal for regulating said dosage and stimulation pulses, whereby said neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
141 words
A system for using at least one drug to treat a neurological disorder producing a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure comprising in combination: an implantable pump; a signal generator for generating stimulation pulses; a combined catheter-electrode having a proximal end coupled to said pump and said signal generator and a distal end adapted to infuse a predetermined dosage of at least one drug into a predetermined infusion site in a brain, said distal end also having at least one electrode responsive to said stimulation pulses for electrically stimulating said predetermined infusion site; a sensor for generating a sensor signal responsive to said condition resulting from the onset of a seizure and having means for detecting neuronal activity; and control means responsive to said sensor signal for regulating said dosage and stimulation pulses, whereby said neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of using at least one drug to treat epilepsy by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said at least one drug, said method comprising the steps of: surgically implanting said catheter so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site above the cortex of the brain; and operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said at least one drug through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site, whereby a neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of using at least one drug to treat epilepsy by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said at least one drug, said method comprising the steps of: surgically implanting said catheter so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site above the cortex of the brain; and operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said at least one drug through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site, whereby a neurological disorder is treated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method, as claimed in claim 21, wherein said at least one drug is selected from the group consisting of a glutamate antagonist, a glutamate agonist, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) antagonist, a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, a dopamine (DA) agonist and an anesthetic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method, as claimed in claim 21, and further comprising the steps of: generating a sensor signal in response to a condition resulting from the onset of a seizure; and altering said operation of said pump in response to said sensor signal for changing said predetermined dosage.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-01 | 2003-05-03 | 2003-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-01 | 2007-05-03 | 2007-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-01 | 2011-05-03 | 2011-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |