Device and Method for Effective Invasive Multi-Segment Neurostimulation

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This invention concerns an implantable medical device and method for neurostimulation that is capable of stimulating multiple separate regions (segments) of the brain and/or spinal cord using a plurality of stimulation elements organized into groups. The device can apply complex, adjustable stimulus patterns across these groups, adapting the timing, intensity, and sequence of the stimuli to better match the local anatomical and functional characteristics of the target neuronal populations. The goal is to more precisely desynchronize abnormal synchronous brain activity (as seen in disorders like Parkinson's disease, dystonia, epilepsy, and chronic pain) and thereby reduce symptoms with improved efficacy and fewer side effects compared to existing neurostimulation techniques.

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• Treatment of Parkinson's disease by reducing tremors and other motor symptoms via targeted deep brain stimulation.
• Management of drug-resistant epilepsy using adaptive neural stimulation to desynchronize abnormal electrical activity.
• Relief of chronic pain through spinal cord stimulation with optimized multi-segment patterns.
• Treatment of movement disorders, dystonia, or essential tremor with personalized neurostimulation protocols.
• Potential therapeutic intervention for psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, OCD, Tourette syndrome) by disrupting pathological neuronal synchronization.
• Neurostimulation following stroke or traumatic brain injury to aid in neurorehabilitation and function recovery.
• Migraine or cluster headache mitigation via segmental stimulation of relevant brain regions.

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• Allows precise and adaptive stimulation of different brain/spinal cord areas according to their unique anatomical and neurophysiological properties.
• Reduces risks of side effects by avoiding unnecessary stimulation of non-target neural structures.
• Achieves longer-lasting therapeutic effects by inducing neural network remodeling and desynchronization, even after short application periods.
• Supports both open-loop and closed-loop (feedback-based) operation, enabling patient-specific optimization and real-time adjustment.
• Flexibility to combine different patterns (e.g., high-frequency and coordinated reset) within different segments for tailored interventions.
• Mitigates habituation and tolerance by varying stimulus sequences over time.
• Implements two-phase stimulation strategies (e.g., gradually increasing intensity), which improve patient tolerance and efficacy.
• Software-controlled and upgradable, facilitating integration with future advances in stimulation algorithms and sensors.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a device for stimulating neurons, comprising the following - a stimulation unit which can be implanted into the body of a patient and which comprises a plurality of stimulation elements for stimulating neurons in a target areal of the brain and/or spinal cord of the patient with stimuli, and - a control unit which actuates the stimulation unit such that multiple groups of stimulation elements generate respective stimuli, wherein - each group comprises a plurality of stimulation elements of the stimulation unit, - at least two of the groups generate sequences of stimuli in a repetitive manner in a respective time pattern which consists of successive cycles, and - the sequences of stimuli generated by the at least two groups differ in terms of the number of cycles in which the sequence in which the stimulation elements generate the stimuli within one sequence is constant and/or in terms of the duration of the respective cycles.