METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFECTUATING A LASTING CHANGE IN A NEURAL-FUNCTION OF A PATIENT
The following disclosure describes several methods and apparatus for intracranial electrical stimulation to treat or otherwise effectuate a change in neural-functions of a patient. The methods in accordance with the invention can be used to treat brain damage (e.g., stroke, trauma, etc.), brain disease (e.g., Alzheimer's, Pick's, Parkinson's, etc.), and/or brain disorders (e.g., epilepsy, depression, etc.). The methods in accordance with the invention can also be used to enhance neural-function of normal, healthy brains (e.g., learning, memory, etc.), or to control sensory functions (e.g., pain).
1 . A method of effectuating a neural-function of a brain of a patient associated with a first location in the brain, comprising:
identifying a stimulation site in and/or on the brain where neural activity has changed in response to a change in the neural-function in the first location of the brain;
positioning a first electrode at the stimulation site;
positioning a second electrode at the stimulation site; and
applying an electrical potential between the first and second electrodes.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a stimulation site comprises imaging the cortex of the brain.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein identifying a stimulation site comprises:
taking a first image of the brain that shows neural activity related to the neural-function using functional MRI;
taking a second image of the brain that shows neural activity related to the neural-function using functional MRI after taking the first image of the brain; and
comparing a change in the neural activity related to the neural-function.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a peripheral input to the patient that is expected to generate neural activity in the brain related to performing the neural-function.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a peripheral input to the patient that is expected to generate neural activity in the brain that performs the neural-function; and
identifying a stimulation site comprises taking a first image of the brain that shows neural activity before applying the peripheral input, taking a second image of the brain that shows neural activity while applying the peripheral input, and comparing a change in neural activity in the brain between the first and second images.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein neural activity for the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location in the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting neural activity for the neural-function at a second location in the brain different than the first location.
7 . The method of clam 6 wherein detecting the neural activity comprises taking functional MRI images of the brain and monitoring neural activity at the second location.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the neural-function controls learning a task and the neural activity related to the neural function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in the neural activity at the first location of the brain while the patient learns the task.
9 . The method of clam 8 wherein detecting a change in the neural activity comprises taking functional MRI images of the brain while the patient learns the task.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the neural-function controls learning a task and the neural activity related to the neural function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in the neural activity at a second location different than the first location of the brain while the patient learns the task.
11 . The method of clam 10 wherein detecting a change in the neural activity comprises taking functional MRI images of the brain while the patient learns the task.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by a disease and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity adjacent to the first region.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by a disease and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity related to the neural-function at a second location different than the first location.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by brain damage and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity adjacent to the first region.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first region of the brain is affected by brain damage and neural activity related to the neural-function is expected to occur at the first location of the brain according to a known functional organization of the brain, and wherein identifying the stimulation site comprises detecting a change in neural activity related to the neural-function at a second location different than the first location.