Systems and Methods for Therapeutically Treating Neuro-Psychiatric Disorders and Other Illnesses

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating neuro-psychiatric disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia, and/or other illnesses are disclosed. A patient is diagnosed with a particular neuro-psychiatric disorder or other illness. An electric nerve stimulation (ENS) technique, such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), is administered to the patient in conjunction with a magnetic nerve stimulation (MNS) technique. The magnetic nerve stimulation (MNS) technique includes applying a magnetic field to a pre-selected synaptic region of a brain of the patient based on the diagnosis. A physiological response of the brain, such as electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, is monitored. One or more parameters of the magnetic field may be selectively adapted in response to the monitored physiological response. The administration of the ENS technique and the MNS technique may be performed simultaneously, in serial order, or in alternating order depending on the diagnosis.

1 . A method of treating a neuropsychiatric disorder in a patient, said method comprising
 applying a magnetic field to the brain of said patient to change a polarization level of at least one neuron with respect to a firing threshold of said at least one neuron; and   administering electric nerve stimulation (ENS) therapy to the brain of the patient,   wherein a therapeutic effect on said neuropsychiatric disorder is enhanced by a combination of said applied magnetic field and said administered electric nerve stimulation.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said magnetic field comprises a pulsed magnetic field. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said magnetic field comprises an alternating magnetic field. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said magnetic field comprises a steady magnetic field. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises producing a current within said brain which generates a motor seizure in said patient. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises producing a current within said brain without generating a motor seizure in said patient. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said motor seizure is prevented by limiting said application of said magnetic field so as not to reach a motor area of said brain. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said motor area of said brain comprises a motor cortex of said brain. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises producing a current within areas of said brain that do not include motor centers of said brain. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises producing an EEG seizure. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises producing an EEG seizure without causing a motor seizure. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises providing at least one magnetic coil for producing said magnetic field. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises providing at least one magnetic coil connected to a generator comprising capacitors, switching elements, and sensing elements. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said generator is connected to an electrical power source. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises concentrating said magnetic field in certain brain synaptic regions by selectively orienting at least one magnetic coil with respect to said certain brain synaptic regions. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises concentrating said magnetic field in certain brain synaptic regions by selectively orienting at least two magnetic coils with respect to said certain brain synaptic regions. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises providing a positively directed induced current to produce a positive polarization change (hyperpolarization). 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field comprises providing a negatively directed induced current to produce a negative polarization change (depolarization). 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said hyperpolarization causes a decrease in EEG frequency (synchronization) within certain synaptic regions of said brain. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said depolarization causes an increase in EEG frequency (desynchronization) within certain synaptic regions of said brain. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of applying a magnetic field produces synaptic polarization changes that do not cause a nerve-firing threshold to be reached in certain synaptic regions. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said electric nerve stimulation (ENS) therapy comprises vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). 
   
   
       23 . A system for providing therapeutic treatment of a neuropsychiatric disorder or other illness in a patient, said system comprising:
 a magnetic stimulation (MS) subsystem capable of generating a pulsed current waveform to produce a pulsed magnetic field to stimulate a first region within the brain of said patient to change a polarization level of at least one neuron with respect to a firing threshold of said at least one neuron;   an electric nerve stimulation (ENS) subsystem capable of generating electric signals to stimulate a second region within the brain of said patient; and   a computer-based switching subsystem coupled to said magnetic stimulation (MS) subsystem and said electric nerve stimulation (ENS) subsystem and capable of selecting at least one of said magnetic stimulation (MS) subsystem and said electric nerve stimulation (ENS) subsystem for stimulation of the brain of the patient.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said magnetic stimulation (MS) subsystem comprises:
 a configuration of switches and storage capacitors having an electrical input and an electrical output;   an electrical energy source coupled to said electrical input of said configuration; and   at least one magnetic coil coupled to said electrical output of said configuration.   
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said electric nerve stimulation (ENS) subsystem comprises a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) system. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising a monitoring subsystem capable of monitoring a physiological response of the brain of the patient to said electric signals and/or said pulsed magnetic field. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said physiological response comprises electroencephalogram (EEG) changes of said brain. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising a controller capable of controlling the parameters and operation of said system. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said pulsed magnetic field is produced by charging said storage capacitors with energy from said electrical energy source, and discharging said energy from said storage capacitors into said at least one magnetic coil as said pulsed current waveform. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said pulsed magnetic field produces a bi-phasic damped induced current within said first region of the brain of said patient. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said pulsed magnetic field produces a poly-phasic damped induced current within said first region of the brain of said patient. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said at least one magnetic coil comprises wound and insulated metallic wire in a molded plastic housing. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  further comprising at least one electronic circuit and at least one temperature sensor within said molded plastic housing. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said at least one magnetic coil is coupled to said configuration via at least one flexible high-power cable. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said pulsed magnetic field produces synaptic polarizations in different regions of said brain of said patient depending on at least a size of said magnetic coil, a geometry of said magnetic coil with respect to said patient, and a magnetic field strength of said pulsed magnetic field. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said switches comprise solid state thyristors capable of switching energy stored in said capacitors to said at least one magnetic coil in the form of said pulsed current waveform. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 23  wherein said pulsed current waveform comprises one of monophasic pulses, symmetric biphasic pulses, and exponential decay biphasic pulses. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 24  wherein a capacitance of said storage capacitors, a conductance of said at least one magnetic coil, and a resistance of said at least one magnetic coil are regulated to control a rise time and a decay time of each pulse of said pulsed current waveform. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 24  wherein said at least one magnetic coil comprises a plurality of magnetic coils arranged in different spatial planes to focus said pulsed magnetic field to precise locations in deep synaptic structures within said brain of said patient. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 24  wherein a central axis of said at least one magnetic coil is positioned perpendicular to an imaginary line defining a synaptic region of said brain of said patient. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 24  wherein a central axis of said at least one magnetic coil is positioned parallel to an imaginary line defining a synaptic region of said brain of said patient. 
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 23  wherein focusing of said pulsed magnetic field is aided by induced electric charges that occur naturally within said brain of said patient at synaptic membranes. 
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 23  wherein focusing of said pulsed magnetic field is aided by selectively polarizing synaptic regions of said brain of said patient using said electric nerve stimulation (ENS) subsystem. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising at least one transformer connected between said configuration and said at least one magnetic coil to increase a magnitude of said pulsed current waveform within said at least one magnetic coil. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 24  further comprising a ferromagnetic material that is placed around said at least one magnetic coil to increase an effectiveness of said pulsed magnetic field. 
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 23  wherein focusing of said pulsed magnetic field within said brain of said patient is aided by magnetic or paramagnetic material within synaptic regions of said brain.