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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating an ailment of a subject, the method comprising:
 non-invasively providing electrical energy transcranially to a region of tissue of the subject, wherein the electrical energy is provided by one or more electrodes operably applied to a head of the subject; and   injecting a chemical agent into a sub-region of tissue of the subject, wherein the combined effect provides a treatment that affects the ailment of the subject.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ailment is a movement disorder. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy is direct current (DC) electrical energy. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy is non-invasively and transcranially applied to a motor cortex of the subject. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric energy is an electric field. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric field is pulsed. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric field is time varying. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric field is pulsed a plurality of times, and each pulse may be for a different length of time. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric field is time invariant. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein injecting the chemical agent is via a syringe. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy and the chemical agent are provided simultaneously. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical energy and the chemical agent are provided sequentially.