| abstract |
Devices, systems and methods are provided for directly stimulating tissues, particularly muscle tissues, to modulate muscle contractions (i.e. provide reanimation of the muscle or to suppress undesired muscle contractions). Reanimation of muscles may be desired when damage to the brain, nervous system or neuromuscular junctions have occurred, causing a muscle tissue to lack sufficient motor control. Suppression of muscle contractions may be desired in situations of pathologically hyperactive muscles, such as in conditions of muscle spasm (e.g. blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm) or muscle dystonia. Direct stimulation is achieved by delivering a chemical agent directly to the muscle tissue, particularly the motor end plate, bypassing the nerves and neuromuscular junctions which may be damaged or diseased. Implanted hybrid chemical and electromagnetic stimulation devices can modulate muscle contraction in response to signals from a controller. |