Apparatus and method for stimulation of biological tissue

Abstract

An apparatus for generating focused currents in biological tissue is provided. The apparatus comprises an electric source capable of generating an electric field across a region of tissue and means for altering the permittivity of the tissue relative to the electric field, whereby a displacement current is generated. The means for altering the permittivity may be a chemical source, optical source, mechanical source, thermal source, or electromagnetic source.

1 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A method for treating an ailment associated with an injury to a joint, the method comprising: non-invasively providing stimulation transcranially to a subject's brain to treat an ailment associated with an injury to a joint, wherein the stimulation is provided in a manner such that neural function is altered past duration of the stimulation, thereby treating the ailment associated with the injury to the joint. 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein stimulation is provide to one or more structures in the brain selected from the group consisting of: dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, any component of the basal ganglia, nucleus accumbens, gastric nuclei, brainstem, thalamus, inferior colliculus, superior colliculus, periaqueductal gray, primary motor cortex, supplementary motor cortex, occipital lobe, Brodmann areas 56-48, primary sensory cortex, primary visual cortex, primary auditory cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, cochlea, cranial nerves, cerebellum, frontal lobe, occipital lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and sub-cortical structures. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the stimulation comprises at least two different types of energy. 
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein a first type of energy is selected from the group consisting of: thermal, optical, mechanical, electromagnetic, and electrical. 
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein a second type of energy is selected from the group consisting of: thermal, optical, mechanical, electromagnetic, and electrical. 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 58 , wherein the first type of energy is an electric field. 
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the electric field is pulsed. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the electric field is time varying. 
     
     
         64 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the electric field is pulsed a plurality of times, and each pulse may be for a different length of time. 
     
     
         65 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the electric field is time invariant. 
     
     
         66 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the second type of energy is a mechanical field. 
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the mechanical field is generated by an ultrasound device. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the mechanical field is pulsed. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the mechanical field is time varying. 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the mechanical field is pulsed a plurality of times, and each pulse may be for a different length of time.