Transcranial current loop stimulation device

Abstract

A device is described, which provides electrical stimulation to the brain of a person, where the device comprises one or more modules, each module comprising an implantable pulse generator (IPG) and a lead with at least one subcranial electrode, which extends into or near the surface of the brain. Each module's IPG comprises a battery and a subcutaneous electrode. Each module is inserted into a burr hole, and a seal fills the space to minimize electric current flow between the subcutaneous electrode and subcranial electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for electrical stimulation of a brain of a person, the device comprising:
 case configured to occupy a space within a burr hole or craniotomy in a skull;   a subcutaneous electrode on the case configured to lie above the skull and under the scalp;   a lead attached to a lower surface of the case and configured to be implanted through the burr hole or craniotomy in the person's skull;   at least one subcranial electrode disposed on a lower end of the lead so that said at least one subcranial electrode will be positioned at a target location in the patient's brain when the lead is implanted through the burr hole or craniotomy;   a seal on a lower surface of the case, said seal being configured to fill a gap between the lower surface of the case and an edge of the burr hole or craniotomy to minimize electrical current between at least one subcranial electrode and the subcutaneous electrode;   a battery within the case; and   control circuitry within the case configured to receive current from the battery and generate electric pulses at a pulse frequency, a pulse amplitude, a pulse width, and a duty cycle, selected to stimulate the patient's brain.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is rechargeable, each module further comprising a coil and a recharging circuit, configured to recharge the battery through magnetic inductive coupling with an external magnetic field generator. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to select one or more of a plurality of subcranial electrodes to be active. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising an antenna, wherein the antenna may receive data from or transmit data to an external programmer. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to program treatment parameters of the module based on commands from the external programmer, the treatment parameters selected from a group consisting of active electrode selection, pulse frequency, pulse amplitude, pulse width, duty cycle, therapy initiation and therapy cessation. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an EEG amplifier and analog-to-digital converter, allowing the device to record an EEG of the person. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising memory configured to store the EEG of the person, and a transmitting antenna, wherein the control circuitry transmits the stored EEG through the transmitting antenna. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic switch, wherein starting or stopping of an EEG recording is controlled by the person placing a permanent magnet close to the magnetic switch, or by the person moving the permanent magnet away from the magnetic switch. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic switch, wherein starting or stopping of stimulation is controlled by the person placing a permanent magnet close to the magnetic switch, or by the person moving the permanent magnet away from the magnetic switch. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near an anterior nucleus of a thalamus. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near a nucleus accumbens. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near a subthalamic nucleus or globus pallidus interna. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near a hippocampus. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near a subcallosal cingulate. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near an anterior nucleus of a pituitary gland. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near a mesencephalic reticular formation or non-specific thalamic nucleus. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lead of each module is configured to be implanted so that one or more of the subcranial electrodes are in or near a cortex. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising a first device and a second device, both devices as set forth in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the control circuitry comprises circuitry of each device is configured to synchronize the electric pulses between the devices so that electric current forms a loop, allowing current to flow interior and exterior to the skull and through at least one stimulation target. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a conductive wire that connects the subcutaneous electrodes of the first device and the second device together. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first device further comprises a speaker configured to provide audio information to the person, a clinician, or a caregiver. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the audio information is generated as a series of beeps, ticks, or tones, which can be decoded.