Patent ID: 7917221
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A device for desynchronizing neuronal brain activity involving a neuron population firing in a synchronized manner at a pathological frequency, the device comprising: a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate a plurality of neuron subpopulations, respectively, of the neuron population, wherein each electrode of the plurality of electrodes is configured to generate a burst of electrical pulses to reset the respective neuron subpopulation; and a control unit configured to control the plurality of electrodes to generate the respective bursts of electrical pulses in sequence having a predetermined time shift between each of the bursts in the sequence such that each respective neuron subpopulation is reset at a different point in time and fires out of phase with the other subpopulations, wherein the predetermined time shift is substantially equal to 1/fN, and wherein f is the pathological frequency and N is the number of the plurality of electrodes.