Claims
- 1. A method for decreasing activity of at least one abnormally overactive output neuron in an abnormally active portion of a neural pathway in an individual having that condition, comprising
- implanting a static device adjacent at least one target neuron having neural activity,
- said target neuron being positioned presynaptically to said output neuron having abnormal over-activity,
- said target neuron receiving functional synaptic input,
- said static device focally releasing at least one compound which acts to inhibit neural activity in said target neuron,
- said inhibition decreasing said abnormal over-activity in said output neuron.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron is in direct synaptic connection with said output neuron.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron is in direct synaptic connection with an interneuron, said interneuron transmitting a neural signal to said output neuron.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said decrease in activity effects an alleviation of movement disorders in said individual.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said movement disorders comprise parkinsonian movement disorders.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said compound is omega-conotoxin.
- 7. The method of claim 4 wherein said movement disorders comprise epileptiform seizure activity.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said output neuron is located within the basal ganglia.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron is located within the basal ganglia.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron is located within the cerebral cortex.
- 11. The method of claim 1 wherein said output neuron is located within the cerebral cortex.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron secretes glutamate.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron contains at least one GABA receptor.
- 14. The method of claim 1 wherein said individual has Huntington's disease.
- 15. The method of claim 1 in which said one compound is secreted from living cells contained within at least one capsule having a semi-permeable wall.
- 16. The method of claim 1 in which said compound is secreted from GABA releasing cells.
- 17. The method of claim 1 in which said compound is secreted from NIT or RIN cells.
- 18. The method of claim 1 in which said compound is secreted from cell genetically engineered to release an inhibitory neuropeptide.
- 19. The method of claim 1 wherein said target neuron is located within the temporal lobe.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a division application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/912,463, filed Jul. 13, 1992, now pending which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/369,296, filed Jun. 21, 1989, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/121,626, filed Nov. 17, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,538.
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|
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Winn et al, "An Encapsulated Dopamine-Releasing Polymer Alleviates Experimental Parkinsonism in Rats", Experimental Neurology, 105, pp. 244-250 (1989). |
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
912463 |
Jul 1992 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
369296 |
Jun 1989 |
|
Parent |
121626 |
Nov 1987 |
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