Surface stimulation for tremor control

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for non-invasive electrical stimulation of the brain through skin surface stimulation of the peripheral nervous system as a treatment for movement disorders. Skin surface electrodes are positioned at predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites on the skin surface using a variety of neural imaging techniques. A pulsatile electrical current is generated at the stimulation sites through a variety of standard electrical stimulation devices. Stimulation of the peripheral surface stimulation sites translates to electrical stimulation of a specific area of the brain.

1 . A system for tremor control, comprising: 
 a stimulator, including:    a pulse generator for generating digital signal pulses,    a digital signal processor connected to said pulse generator for generating an approximate sine wave output that is further processed in first and second circuits, and    at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said digital signal processor and positioned at predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites on a subject's skin surface; and    at least one neural image,    wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain, and    wherein the predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites are determined based at least in part on the at least one neural image.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said digital signal processor produce an interferential current output waveform from said first and second circuits.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said interferential current output waveform includes a base medium frequency of at least 1 KHz but no more than 100 KHz.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said interferential current output waveform includes a resultant beat frequency of no more than 250 Hz.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said digital signal processor are positioned on the subject's skin surface using positron emission tomography and neural imaging devices to identify the peripheral surface stimulation sites.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said digital signal processor are positioned on the subject's skin surface using dermatome maps to identify the peripheral surface stimulation sites.  
   
   
       7 . A system for tremor control, comprising: 
 a stimulator, including,    a pulse generator for generating digital signal pulses,    a field-programmable gate array connected to said pulse generator for processing the digital signal pulses to approximate a sine-wave output waveform that is further processed in first and second circuits, and    at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said field-programmable gate array and positioned at predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites on a subject's skin surface; and    at least one neural image,    wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain, and    wherein the predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites are determined based at least in part on the at least one neural image.    
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said field-programmable gate array produce an interferential current output waveform from said first and second circuits.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said interferential current output waveform includes a base medium frequency of at least 1 KHz but no more than 100 KHz.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said interferential current output waveform includes a resultant beat frequency of no more than 250 Hz.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said field-programmable gate array are positioned on the subject's skin surface using positron emission tomography and neural imaging devices to identify the peripheral surface stimulation sites.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes connected to said field-programmable gate array are positioned on the subject's skin surface using dermatome maps to identify the peripheral surface stimulation sites.  
   
   
       13 . A system for tremor control, comprising: 
 a stimulator, including,    a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, and    at least one pair of surface electrodes connected to said pulse generator and positioned at predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites on a subject's skin surface; and    at least one neural image,    wherein said at least one pair of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain, and    wherein the predetermined peripheral surface stimulation sites are determined based at least in part on the at least one neural image.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one pair of surface electrodes connected to said pulse generator produce a pulsatile current with a square wave output.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said pulsatile current includes an amplitude range from 0-150 mA and a pulse width of 1-500 μsec.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said pulsatile current includes a frequency range from 1 pps to 2500 pps.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one pair of surface electrodes connected to said pulse generator are positioned on the subject's skin surface using positron emission tomography and neural imaging devices to identify the peripheral surface stimulation sites.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one pair of surface electrodes connected to said pulse generator are positioned on the subject's skin surface using dermatome maps to identify the peripheral surface stimulation sites.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain transcutaneously.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain percutaneously.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain transcutaneously.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said at least two pairs of surface electrodes stimulate the subject's brain percutaneously.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one pair of surface electrodes stimulates the subject's brain transcutaneously.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one pair of surface electrodes stimulates the subject's brain percutaneously.