Method of intravascularly delivering stimulation leads into brain

Abstract

A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient is provided. The method comprises intravascularly delivering a stimulation lead within the head of the patient, and placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue (e.g., cortical brain tissue or deep brain tissue), the stimulation of which will treat the neurological disorder. The stimulation lead can be placed into indirect contact with the brain tissue (e.g., through a blood vessel) or indirect contact with the brain tissue (e.g., when placed within the ventricular cavity or by being introduced through an exit point within a vessel wall). Optionally, the method comprises implanting a source of stimulation within the patient's body, and then electrically coupling the proximal end of the stimulation lead, which conveniently extends from the access point within the circulatory system, to the implanted stimulation source. Using the stimulation lead, the brain tissue can then be stimulated in order to treat the neurological disorder.

1 . A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising: 
 intravascularly delivering an electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient; and    placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue, the stimulation of which treats the neurological disorder.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising stimulating the brain tissue with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising recording brain signals with the stimulation lead.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is a degenerative disorder.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the neurological disorder is a brain infarction.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head via the circulatory system.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head via the ventricular system.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the brain tissue.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the brain tissue.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises an exposed signal wire and an electrode coupled to the exposed wire.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises a catheter having a catheter body, a signal wire extending through the catheter body, and an electrode mounted to the catheter body in electrical contact with the signal wire.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises a guidewire having a shaft, a signal wire extending through the shaft, and an electrode mounted to the shaft in electrical contact with the signal wire.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the brain tissue is cortical brain tissue.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the brain tissue is deep brain tissue.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is acutely placed adjacent the brain tissue.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation lead is subchronically or chronically placed adjacent the brain tissue.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising electrically connecting the stimulation lead to a stimulation source.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising implanting the stimulation source within the patient.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stimulation lead is connected to the stimulation source in a monopolar mode.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stimulation lead is connected to the stimulation source in a multipolar mode.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising affixing the stimulation lead relative to the brain tissue.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the stimulation lead is affixed by deploying a stent.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stent is an electrode stent.  
     
     
         24 . A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising: 
 delivering an electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient via a blood vessel; and    placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue the stimulation of which treats the neurological disorder.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising stimulating the brain tissue with the stimulation lead to treat the neurological disorder.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising recording brain signals with the stimulation lead.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the neurological disorder is a degenerative disorder.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the neurological disorder is a brain infarction.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the brain tissue.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the brain tissue.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises an exposed signal wire and an electrode coupled to the exposed wire.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises a catheter having a catheter body, a signal wire extending through the catheter body, and an electrode mounted to the catheter body in electrical contact with the signal wire.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises a guidewire having a shaft, a signal wire extending through the shaft, and an electrode mounted to the shaft in electrical contact with the signal wire.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the brain tissue is cortical brain tissue.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the brain tissue is deep brain tissue.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead is acutely placed adjacent the brain tissue.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead is subchronically or chronically placed adjacent the brain tissue.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising electrically connecting the stimulation lead to a stimulation source.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising implanting the stimulation source within the patient.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the stimulation lead is connected to the stimulation source in a monopolar mode.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the stimulation lead is connected to the stimulation source in a multipolar mode.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the stimulation lead is an electrical stimulation electrode lead.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising affixing the stimulation lead relative to the brain tissue.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the stimulation lead is affixed by deploying a stent.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the stent is an electrode stent.  
     
     
         46 . A method of treating a neurological disorder in a patient, comprising: 
 making an access point into the vasculature of the patient;    introducing a stimulation lead through the access point and into the head of the patient;    placing the stimulation lead adjacent brain tissue within the head, while a proximal end of the stimulation lead extends from the access point; and    connecting the proximal end of the stimulation lead to a stimulation source.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising implanting the stimulation source within the patient external to the vasculature of the patient.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising conveying stimulation energy from the stimulation source to the stimulation lead, wherein the brain tissue is electrically stimulated to treat the neurological disorder.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising receiving brain signals with the stimulation lead.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the neurological disorder is a degenerative disorder.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the neurological disorder is a brain infarction.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the access point is made in the circulatory system of the patient.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the access point is made in the ventricular system of the patient.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the brain tissue.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the brain tissue.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises an exposed signal wire and an electrode coupled to the exposed wire.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises a catheter having a catheter body, a signal wire extending through the catheter body, and an electrode mounted to the catheter body in electrical contact with the signal wire.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead comprises a guidewire having a shaft, a signal wire extending through the shaft, and an electrode mounted to the shaft in electrical contact with the signal wire.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the brain tissue is cortical brain tissue.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the brain tissue is deep brain tissue.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation source is an electrical stimulation source.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead is connected to the stimulation source in a monopolar mode.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the stimulation lead is connected to the stimulation source in a multipolar mode.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising affixing the stimulation lead relative-to the brain tissue.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the stimulation lead is affixed by deploying a stent.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the stent is an electrode stent.  
     
     
         67 . A method of treating a disorder in a patient, comprising: 
 intravascularly delivering an electrical stimulation lead within the head of the patient;    placing the stimulation lead adjacent the spheno palatine ganglion (SPG); and    electrically stimulating the SPG with the stimulation lead.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the SPG is electrically stimulated to control the amount of blood flow to the brain.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the SPG is electrically stimulated to dilate blood vessels within the brain, thereby increasing the flow of blood to the brain.  
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the disorder is a stroke.  
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the disorder is Alzheimer's Disease, and the increased blood flow facilitates metabolization of amlyoid plaques.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the dilation of the blood vessels minimizes vasospasms symptomatic of the disorder.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising delivering a drug to the brain, wherein the SPG is electrically stimulated to open the blood-brain barrier and improve absorption of the drug into the brain.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the disorder is a neurological disorder.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the stimulation lead is introduced into the head via the circulatory system.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in direct contact with the SPG.  
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the stimulation lead is placed in indirect contact with the SPG.