Noninvasive electric brain stimulation system

Abstract

Systems, devices and methods for electric stimulation are provided. The system comprises an electrodes' arrangement configured to be placed in the vicinity of a body region to be stimulated; a signal generator configured to supply electric stimulation signals to the electrodes' arrangement; and a control circuitry connected to the signal generator and to the electrodes' arrangement; the electrodes' arrangement comprises a plurality of electrode elements arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being connected to the signal generator, so as to define spatial resolution of stimulation; the control circuitry determines data indicative of a profile of a stimulating electric field to be produced by the electrodes' arrangement to stimulate at least one desired target in said body region, and selectively assign, for stimulating each target, at least one pair of first and second effective electrodes, each being formed by one or more of said electrode elements, and enable operation of each of said assigned effective electrodes by the signal generator to produce the stimulating electric field.

1 . An electric stimulation system, comprising:
 an electrodes' arrangement configured to be placed on a head in the vicinity of a brain region to be stimulated;   a signal generator configured to supply electric stimulation signals to the electrodes' arrangement; and   a control circuitry connected to the signal generator and to the electrodes' arrangement, wherein   
       the electrodes' arrangement comprises a plurality of electrode elements arranged in a spaced-apart relationship and being connected to the signal generator, so as to define spatial resolution of stimulation; and 
       the control circuitry is configured and operable to determine data indicative of a profile of a stimulating electric field to be produced by the electrodes' arrangement to stimulate at least one desired target in said brain region, and selectively assign, for stimulating said at least one desired target, at least a first effective electrode and a second effective electrode, each effective electrode being formed by one or more of said electrode elements of the electrodes' arrangement, and enable operation of each of said assigned effective electrodes by the signal generator to produce the stimulating electric field in accordance with said profile. 
     
     
         2 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stimulating electric field profile is characterized by two or more of the following parameters: electric field region location and shape with respect to a location of said at least one desired target within said brain region, field intensity profile, field frequency profile, electric field duration, a time pattern of the electric field. 
     
     
         3 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry comprises a controller configured to analyze data indicative of the at least one desired target within the brain region and determine a number n (n≥1) and location of electrode elements in said electrodes' arrangement to define each of the first and second effective electrodes to be assigned in accordance with said desired target. 
     
     
         4 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 3 , wherein said data indicative of the at least one desired target comprises target location data within said brain region or geometrical data about said target. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 3 , wherein said data indicative of the at least one desired target comprises at least one of the following: stimulation field intensity, stimulation field frequency profile, stimulation field duration, and a time pattern of application of the stimulation field. 
     
     
         7 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry comprises a switching arrangement comprising a plurality of switches associated with a plurality of electrode elements of the electrodes' arrangement to selectively switch each of the electrode elements between its operative and inoperative states in accordance with the assignment of said at least a first effective electrode and a second effective electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein said control circuitry is configured and operable to operate at least two successive treatment sessions to said at least one desired target within the brain region by assigning a first effective electrode as an anode to be activated in the at least two successive treatment sessions, and at least two effective electrodes as cathodes, each to be activated with the anode in each treatment session, thereby stimulating the at least one desired target while mitigating inhibiting other regions in the brain region. 
     
     
         9 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the electrode elements is assigned with its unique identification data, said control circuitry utilizing the identification data of the electrode elements to assign the selected said at least a first effective electrode and a second effective electrode. 
     
     
         10 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes' arrangement comprises an insulator layer located adjacent to at least some of said electrode elements, thereby enabling to reduce the space between said at least some of electrode elements and increase the spatial resolution of stimulation. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The electric stimulation system according to  claim 1 , wherein said electrodes' arrangement is arranged on a cap or hat-like structure configured to be positioned on a subject's scalp. 
     
     
         13 . An electrodes' arrangement for use in an electric stimulation system, the electrodes' arrangement being configured to be placed on a head in the vicinity of a brain region to be stimulated, and comprises a plurality of electrode elements arranged in a spaced-apart relationship so as to define spatial resolution of stimulation; said electrode elements being configured to be operated in groups of one or more electrode elements to thereby define at least one pair of first and second effective electrodes to produce a stimulating electric field of a predetermined profile in at least one desired target in said brain region. 
     
     
         14 . The electrodes' arrangement according to  claim 13 , wherein each of said electrode elements is assigned with its unique identification data to be used in the definition of said effective electrodes. 
     
     
         15 . The electrodes' arrangement according to  claim 13 , comprising an insulator layer located adjacent to at least some of said electrode elements, thereby enabling to reduce the space between said at least some of electrode elements and increase the spatial resolution of stimulation. 
     
     
         16 . The electrodes' arrangement according to  claim 13 , being arranged on a cap or hat-like structure configured to be positioned on a subject's scalp to be used in electric stimulation to the brain. 
     
     
         17 . A method for electrically stimulating a desired target in a brain region, the method comprising:
 placing an electrodes' arrangement on a head in the vicinity of the brain region, such that a plurality of electrode elements of the electrodes' arrangement are arranged in a spaced-apart relationship on the head, so as to define spatial resolution of stimulation;   receiving data indicative of at least one desired target in said brain region;   analyzing said data indicative of the at least one desired target, and determining data indicative of a profile of a stimulating electric field to be produced by the electrodes' arrangement to stimulate said at least one desired target,   analyzing said data indicative of the profile of the stimulating electric field, and assigning at least first and second effective electrodes, each formed by one or more of the electrode elements of the electrodes' arrangement, to be operated to produce the stimulating electric field in accordance with said profile; and   supplying electric stimulation signals to the effective electrodes.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said data indicative of the at least one desired target comprise target location data within said brain. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said data indicative of the at least one desired target comprise geometrical data about said target. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said data indicative of a profile of a stimulating electric field comprise at least one of the following: stimulating field intensity, stimulating field frequency profile, stimulating field duration, and a time pattern of application of the stimulating field. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said assigning of at least first and second effective electrodes comprises utilizing unique identification data assigned to each of said electrode elements. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein said assigning of at least first and second effective electrodes comprises operating at least two successive treatment sessions to said at least one desired target within the brain by assigning a first effective electrode as an anode to be activated in the at least two successive treatment sessions, and at least two effective electrodes as cathodes, each to be activated with the anode in each treatment session, thereby stimulating the at least one desired target while mitigating inhibiting other regions in the brain region. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)