Non-invasive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
First Claim
1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a contact surface of a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient, wherein the housing comprises an energy source configured to generate an electric current;
transmitting, via the contact surface, the electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient; and
modulating the electric current such that the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds and such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient to inhibit an inflammation and thereby treat the neurodegenerative disorder.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a non-invasive treatment of a neurodegenerative disease through a delivery of energy to a target nervous tissue, such as a vagus nerve of a patient. Such energy can be applied to the patient to generate an electrical impulse. The electrical impulse can be modulated to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient to inhibit inflammation and treat the neurodegenerative disease. Such stimulation can bring about a reduction of neuro-inflammation in some patients suffering from one or more conditions, such as Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease, Parkinson'"'"'s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, or postoperative delirium.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a contact surface of a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient, wherein the housing comprises an energy source configured to generate an electric current; transmitting, via the contact surface, the electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient; and modulating the electric current such that the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds and such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient to inhibit an inflammation and thereby treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for applying an electric current to a target region within a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, the apparatus comprising:
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an enclosure having a contact surface; and a power source housed within the enclosure and configured to generate the electric current that is sufficient to transmit an electrical impulse transcutaneously and non-invasively through an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient to a location at or near the target region when the contact surface is positioned against the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds and such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate an activity of a selected nerve at or near the target region to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient and thereby treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
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applying an electric current to an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient non-invasively sufficient to transmit the electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient and generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient; and modulating the electric current such that the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds and such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient to inhibit an inflammation and thereby treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification