Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed herein are several unique configurations of electrodes for stimulation of brain tissue. Specifically, a configuration of electrodes is disclosed that has at least one electrode on the brain's surface and at least one additional electrode located deep within the tissue of the brain. It is envisioned that all such electrodes would be located in close proximity to a particular region of the brain such as an epileptic focus. It is further envisioned that several brain surface electrodes would be used in conjunction with several deep brain electrodes. Specifically, it is envisioned that all surface electrodes would be electrically joined together and all deep electrodes would be electrically joined together. In this way, when a source of electrical current is connected to those electrodes, a particular region of the brain could be surrounded by a 'curtain' of electrical current that can be used to depolarize neurons at the perimeter of the region so as to prevent any electrical signal originating in that region from being transmitted beyond that region to the rest of the brain. Sub-surface electrodes placed between 1 and 10 mm below the brain's surface could also be used with either brain surface electrodes or deep brain electrodes.

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First Claim