Method to design temporal patterns of nervous system stimulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods that enable one to design temporal patterns for the optimal stimulation of a nervous system, one or more nerve cells, or nervous tissue. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to methods to design improved stimulation patterns and/or genetic algorithms for the optimal stimulation of a nervous system, one or more nerve cells, or nervous tissue. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes a model-based design to achieve a more optimal stimulation pattern for use in connection with a nervous system, one or more nerve cells, or nervous tissue (e.g., a human nervous system). In another embodiment, the model-based design of the present invention utilizes a systematic search method to identify parameters (e.g., design variables) that minimize a cost function (e.g., optimize the fitness of a particular design). In one instance, the system and method of the present invention is demonstrated via optimal temporal patterns of electrical stimulation for a nervous system, one or more nerve cells, or nervous tissue.

1 . A method for achieving neural stimulation comprising the steps of:
 (A) selecting a neural model based on the nature of a disease to be treated;   (B) designing an electrical stimulation pattern by applying a cost function to the neural model, wherein the cost function comprises: A*(power in a specific frequency band of a local field potential or electroencephalogram)+B*(average stimulation frequency of the stimulation pattern-target stimulation frequency); and   (C) stimulating one or more neurons or one or more neural tissues in an individual using the stimulation pattern designed in Step (B) using an electrical stimulation device, wherein the stimulation pattern comprises non-regular pulses.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulation is deep brain stimulation and wherein an electrical stimulation of the stimulation of the one or more neurons or the one or more neural tissues comprises a frequency of 100 Hz or less. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an electrical stimulation of the stimulation of the one or more neurons or the one or more neural tissues comprises pattern has a specified average frequency. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes the steps of:
 (D) using feedback from either the individual being stimulated or from the stimulation device to further refine or optimize the stimulation pattern of Step (B).   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the optimization disrupts certain pathological patterns of neural activity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more neurons or one or more neural tissues to be stimulated are in a brain of the individual being stimulated. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease to be treated is Parkinson's disease by breaking up pathological synchronizations and oscillations. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A device for delivering neural stimulation comprising:
 a pulse generator; and   a processor positioned in the pulse generator;   an electrode electrically coupled with the pulse generator, wherein the pulse generator applies an electrical stimulation through the electrode, wherein the electrical stimulation comprises a temporal pattern of inter-pulse intervals of 2 ms, 50 ms, 16 ms, 4 ms, 52 ms, 19 ms, 2 ms, 48 ms and 7 ms and wherein the pulse generator repeats application of the temporal pattern of inter-pulse intervals.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical stimulation has an average frequency of 45 Hz and comprises non-regular pulses. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the pulse generator permits optimization of the stimulation patterns based upon neural recording activity. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the pulse generator permits optimization in real-time. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the pulse generator stimulates one or more neurons or one or more neural tissues in a brain of an individual. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the pulse generator treats Parkinson's disease. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 selecting a neural model based on a symptom to be treated;   generating a first non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation;   applying a cost function to the neural model to modify the first non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation, wherein the cost function comprises: 100%*(an error index with the first non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation−error index with a regular pattern of stimulation with an equal average frequency as the first non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation)/error index with the regular pattern of stimulation with an equal average frequency as the first non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation;   generating a second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation based on the application of the cost function; and   stimulating one or more neurons or one or more neural tissues in an individual using the second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation through an electrical stimulation device, wherein the second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation comprises a repeating vector of inter-pulse intervals of 2 ms, 50 ms, 16 ms, 4 ms, 52 ms, 19 ms, 2 ms, 48 ms and 7 ms.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation is applied to a brain of a patient. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation has an average frequency of 45 Hz. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further includes the step of:
 using feedback from either an individual being stimulated or from a stimulation device to further refine or optimize the second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein one or more neurons or one or more neural tissues to be stimulated are in a brain. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the method further includes the step of:
 recording neural activity to further refine or optimize the second non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation to a third non-regular temporal pattern of electrical stimulation.   
     
     
         28 . (canceled)