Systems and methods for enhancing or affecting neural stimulation efficiency and/or efficacy
View Patent ↗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.
1. An apparatus for treating a neurological condition of a patient, comprising:
an implantable stimulation device having at least one implantable stimulator configured to be positioned in signal communication with neural tissue of a patient's nervous system, the stimulation device being configured to be implanted in the patient;
an implantable signal generator;
a signal communication link operatively coupled between the stimulation device and the signal generator; and
a controller operatively coupled to the signal generator, the controller being configured to provide instructions to the signal generator to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation to the patient at a frequency that varies at least generally similar to naturally occurring frequency of brainwave variations.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal generator is configured to direct application of electromagnetic stimulation at sub-threshold levels.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation having a burst frequency and an intra-burst frequency greater than the burst frequency.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation having a burst frequency and an intra-burst frequency greater than the burst frequency, and wherein characteristics of the intra-burst stimulation vary from one burst to another.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring alpha brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of from about 8 Hz to about 13 Hz.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring beta brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of from about 13 Hz to about 30 Hz.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring gamma brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of greater than about 30 Hz.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring delta brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of less than about 4 Hz.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to provide instructions to direct an application of electromagnetic stimulation with an inter-burst frequency that is generally similar to naturally occurring theta brainwave frequencies, wherein the inter-burst frequency has a value of from about 4 Hz to about 8 Hz.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to provide instructions to direct the application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that corresponds to an iterative function.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to provide instructions to direct the application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that corresponds to a partial sum of an infinite series.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to provide instructions to direct the application of electromagnetic stimulation in a manner that corresponds to a metastable attractor.