Newronika S.p.a.

Fondazione Irccs Ca' Granda-ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

Newronika S.r.l.

Universita' Degli Studi Di Milan

Universita′ Degli Studi Di Milano

Alberto Priori

Mattia Arlotti

Lorenzo Rossi

Sara Renata Francesca Marceglia

Guglielmo Foffani

Filippo Maria Cogiamanian

Disclosed herein are deep-brain stimulation (DBS) systems and methods for the treatment of Tourette Syndrome (TS). The DBS methods described herein comprise a stimulation paradigm that may help to reduce the frequency and/or severity of motor and vocal tics, as well as rapid and involuntary muscle motions that are characteristic of TS. One variation of a method for the treatment of TS comprises adjusting electrical stimulation to a target brain region based on changes or variations in the neural activity signals in the target brain region. One example of a method described herein comprises monitoring the power values (e.g., spectral power values) of one or more frequency bands of the acquired neural activity signals and adjusting electrical stimulation parameters based on at least one variation or change of the monitored power values.

Apparatus for brain stimulation

The present invention concerns an apparatus for treating neurological disorders comprising (i) at least one electrode implantable in the brain of a patient and (ii) a processing and stimulation device connected to the at least one electrode, wherein the processing and stimulation device comprises (a) at least one stimulation module adapted to generate a stimulation signal to be sent to the at least one electrode, the stimulation signal being characterised by a plurality of parameters, (b) at least one acquisition module of a signal characteristic of cerebral activity coming from the brain of the patient adapted to determine its power in at least one frequency band, and (c) at least one control module of at least one parameter of the stimulation signal as a function of the power of the signal characteristic of cerebral activity acquired, based on a transfer function having a saturating trend, wherein the transfer function is such as to set the at least one parameter (Va, Vd, Vf) of the stimulation signal (Vstim) differently dependent on a plurality of power ranges, by keeping the at least one parameter within a predetermined stimulation range ([Vi_HighThreshold; Vi_LowThreshold]) with i=a,d,f.

Apparatus and method for treating neurological disorders

Method and apparatus for treating Tourette Syndrome by brain stimulation

An apparatus for treating neurological disorders comprising at least one electrode implantable in a patient's brain and a processing and stimulation device connected to the at least one electrode. The processing and stimulation device comprises at least one stimulation module adapted to generate a stimulation signal characterised by a plurality of parameters; at least one acquisition module adapted to acquire a signal characteristic of cerebral activity and determine its power in at least one frequency band; and at least one control module of at least one parameter of the stimulation signal as a function of the power of the signal characteristic of cerebral activity acquired, based on a transfer function having a saturating trend, wherein the transfer function is configured to set the at least one parameter of the stimulation signal differently dependent on a plurality of power ranges, by keeping the parameter within a predetermined stimulation range.

An apparatus and a related method for the deep brain stimulation have been invented wherein the parameters of the stimulation supplied at the human nervous system level are adjusted and optimized continuously by the analysis of the bioelectric signals coming from the tissue adjacent the stimulation electrode itself, adapting the therapy continuously and in line to the patient's clinical state. The apparatus is constituted at least by an electro-catheter () implantable in a patient's brain and equipped with four contacts (). Then, there is at least a stimulation module () which generates the stimulating signal () sent to the electro-catheter () and in particular to one of the contacts thereof (). The electro-catheter () contemporarily sends a signal characterizing the brain activity coming from the tissue involved by the stimulating signal () to an acquisition module (). The characterizing signal is used to determine the feedback of the stimulation parameters () and, consequently, to adapt the therapy continuously to the patient's clinical state.

Growing community of inventors

Virgilio, Italy

Alberto Priori