Method and apparatus for desynchronization of neural brain activity

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for desynchronising neuronal, morbidly synchronous cerebral activity. According to the invention, the activity in at least two sub-sections of a cerebral area or at least two functionally allied cerebral areas is stimulated with the aid of at least two electrodes, which surprisingly causes a desyncronisation in the affected neurone population of an afflicted person, thus suppressing the symptoms. The stimulation feedback signal, i.e. the measured, time-delayed and processed neuronal activity is used as the individual stimulus. The invention thus permits a self-regulating demand control of the amplitude of the stimulation signal, whereby the intensity of the stimulation pulses are automatically minimised after successful desynchronisation. To operate successfully, the device requires neither complex calibration nor regulation of the stimulation parameters, the latter however can be advantageously adapted and optimised by the additional controller. Said device comprises at least two stimulating electrodes (2) and at least one sensor (3), which are controlled by a controller in such a way that they cause localised desynchronisation.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a device for the desynchronization of neurological brain activity as claimed in the foregoing with the features of claim 1 . Background technique [0002] In patients with neurological or psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, populations of neurons in defined regions of the brain such as the thalamus and basal ganglia become active due to the disease, such as hyperactivity Synchronization. At this point, a large number of neurons develop synchronized action potentials; the neurons are involved in excessively synchronized firing. In healthy people, by contrast, the neurons in these brain regions, for example, generate qualitatively different discharges in an unrelated manner. [0003] For Parkinson's disease, for example pathological synchronous activity of the thalamus and basal ganglia alters neural activity in other brain regions such as the cerebral...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0008] 1. Requires a time-consuming calibration procedure and typically lasts more than 30 minutes

[0009] 2. Due to the time-consuming calibration procedure, desynchronized stimulation according to DE 102 11 766.7 cannot be used for intraoperative selection of the most suitable target point for the deep electrodes

This has the disadvantage of not being able to achieve a therapeutic effect during calibration

[0011] 4. Since the desynchronizing stimulation according to DE 102 11 766.7 occurs only when the frequency of the neuron population to be desynchronized does not undergo large fluctuations, it cannot be used in diseases with time delays and highly variable frequencies, The time delay is due to the disease occurring during short periods of hypersynchronous activity, that is, for example, the case of epilepsy

However, the method in DE 103 18 071.0-33 also has serious disadvantages:

[0016] 3. The on-demand controller in DE 103 18 071.0-33 requires a complex controller with complex control electronics and necessarily consumes more power

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