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.