Method and apparatus for closed-loop deep brain stimulation in treating neurological diseases

摘要

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, implanted deep brain stimulation electrodes, a stimulation sequence pulse generator, one or more implanted sensors for collecting data associated with one or more electrical signal from the vicinity of the site where stimulation is applied by the stimulation electrodes, and one or more noninvasive surface EMG electrodes to be attached to the patient's skin, say, on certain limbs and which may incorporate a wireless transmitter microchip, and a controller. The controller may incorporate one or more wireless receiver microchips to receive inputs from the sensors. It may also have wire input, if placed under the skin of the skull, for inputs from the implanted sensors. It will incorporate a signal processor to process and coordinate the sensed data from the various sensors and to predict the timing for its output commands. The controller also incorporates a decision element to produce a control output to be sent by wire or wireless to the stimulation sequence generator and which may be an on-off command. The signal processor will also discriminate between tremors and intentional movements in the EMG signals utilizing the EMG spectrum. An electronic switch device may be incorporated to allow the implanted electrodes to switch between serving as stimulation electrodes and voltage sensors, thus eliminating the need to implant any separate sensing electrodes. Alternatively, only noninvasive EMG sensing may be employed for closed-loop control.