HEAT-REMOVAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATMENT OF MOVEMENT DISORDER EPISODES

摘要

Heat-removal method and apparatus for treatment of movement disorder episodes; more specifically, a device and method for intracranially suppressing movement disorder episodes upon the detection of physiological symptoms. The device (110) includes a temperature-contact (120) implanted at a targeted portion (114) in the brain (112) which is determined to be associated with such episodes and connection to an implanted heat-transfer operator (123), typically a Peltier cooler or a thermal-electric cooler. Heat transfer from the temperature-contact to the heat-transfer operator cools the targeted portion and suppresses the movement disorder episode. Such heat transfer is performed upon the sensing of symptoms which normally preface episodes. The symptoms can be sensed intracranially by sensing-contacts (230), on the skin by a sensor or person. Alternatively, heat removal (cooling) can be performed without sensing symptoms to prevent episodes when the patient is particularly sensitive to, or in danger from, episodes.