Patent ID: 6128537
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: A61M,A61N

Abstract:
A method of using one or more drugs to therapeutically treat an anxiety disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing therapeutic dosages of said one or more drugs, as well as a signal generator and an implantable electrode having a proximal end and a stimulation portion, said method comprising the steps of:surgically implanting said electrode so that the stimulation portion lies adjacent a predetermined stimulation site in brain tissue chosen to have anxiolytic properties;surgically implanting said catheter so that the discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in said brain tissue chosen to have anxiolytic properties;coupling said proximal end of said electrode to said signal generator;operating said signal generator to stimulate said stimulation site;operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of said one or more drugs through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site while said signal generator is stimulating said stimulation site, whereby an anxiety disorder is treated.