Medical devices for the detection, prevention and/or treatment of neurological disorders, and methods related thereto

Abstract

Disclosed are devices and methods for detecting, preventing, and/or treating neurological disorders. These devices and methods utilize electrical stimulation, and comprise a unique concentric ring electrode component. The disclosed methods involve the positioning of multiple electrodes on the scalp of a mammal; monitoring the mammal's brain electrical patterns to identify the onset of a neurological event; identifying the location of the brain electrical patterns indicative of neurological event; and applying transcutaneous or transcranial electrical stimulation to the location of the neurological event to beneficially modify brain electrical patterns. The disclosed methods may be useful in the detection, prevention, and/or treatment of a variety of indications, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, depression, bipolar disorder, phobia, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, migraine or headache, concussion, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, substance abuse, and anxiety. The disclosed methods may also be used in combination with other peripheral stimulation techniques.

1 . A medical device, comprising a control module, one or more electrodes, and a power supply, wherein, the control module comprises an electrode arbiter, a detection sub-system, an impedance sub-system, a memory sub-system, a stimulation sub-system, a communication sub-system, and a central processing unit, and wherein each of the one or more electrodes comprises a multi-polar configuration. 
     
     
         2 . A medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection sub-system comprises one or more amplifiers, one or more analog-to digital converters, and a digital signal processor. 
     
     
         3 . A medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the impedance sub-system comprises one or more impedance signal generators and an impedance controller. 
     
     
         4 . A medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the stimulation sub-system comprises one or more stimulation signal generators, a stimulation controller, and a high voltage supply. 
     
     
         5 . A medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes comprise at least one outer conductive element and one central conductive element, wherein the at least one outer conductive element surrounds the central conductive element. 
     
     
         6 . A medical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive elements are arranged in a concentric geometric configuration of a ring, a square, a rectangle, an ellipse, or a polygon comprising any number of sides. 
     
     
         7 . A medical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive elements are arranged to form a gap therebetween, and wherein the gap is equal to the width of the at least one outer conductive element. 
     
     
         8 . A medical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the conductive elements are arranged to form a gap therebetween, and wherein the gap is less than or equal to the width of the at least one outer conductive element. 
     
     
         9 . A medical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more electrodes are surface type or implantable type. 
     
     
         10 . A medical device according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more electrodes are fabricated from a metal, a non-metallic conductive material, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal or the non-metallic conductive material is biocompatible, or comprises a conductive biocompatible coating. 
     
     
         11 . A medical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more stimulation signal generators provide electrical signals with waveforms, wherein the waveforms are mono-phasic, bi-phasic, or multi-phasic. 
     
     
         12 . A medical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more stimulation signal generators provide electrical signals having a frequency in the range of from about 0.1 Hz to about 2500 Hz, a pulse width in the range of from about 10  sec to about 10 sec, and a duration of from about 15 sec to about 30 min. 
     
     
         13 . A medical device according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more stimulation signal generators provide voltage in the range of from about 500 mV to about 2 kV, or current in the range of from about 0.01 mA to about 1000 mA. 
     
     
         14 . A medical device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is used in the detection, prevention, treatment of a neurological disorder, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A medical device according to  claim 14 , wherein the neurological disorder is epilepsy or another seizure disorder, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, Parkinsonism, rigidity, hemiballism, choreoathetosis, dystonia, akinesia, bradykinesia, hyperkinesia, other movement disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, phobia, schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, substance abuse, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, eating disorder, impaired control of aggression, or impaired control of sexual behavior, headache, or chronic headache, migraine, concussion, post-concussive syndrome, stress-related disorder, or any combination thereof.