Electrical and magnetic stimulators used to treat migraine/sinus headache, rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, and comorbid disorders
First Claim
1. A method of treating a primary headache in a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient;
generating an electrical impulse with a power supply housed within the housing; and
transmitting, as the housing is in contact with the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient, the electrical impulse from the housing non-invasively and transcutaneously through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to a nerve fiber of a vagus nerve in the patient, wherein the electrical impulse at least partially relieves a symptom of the primary headache and thereby treats the primary headache.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including nasal or paranasal sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches). The devices and methods may also be used to treat rhinitis, sinusitis, or rhinosinusitis, irrespective of whether those disorders are co-morbid with a headache. They may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine or cluster headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient'"'"'s vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of treating a primary headache in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient; generating an electrical impulse with a power supply housed within the housing; and transmitting, as the housing is in contact with the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient, the electrical impulse from the housing non-invasively and transcutaneously through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to a nerve fiber of a vagus nerve in the patient, wherein the electrical impulse at least partially relieves a symptom of the primary headache and thereby treats the primary headache. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of treating a primary headache in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient; generating an electrical impulse with a power supply housed within the housing; transmitting, as the housing is in contact with the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient, the electrical impulse from the housing non-invasively and transcutaneously through the outer skin surface of the patient to a nerve fiber of a vagus nerve, wherein the nerve fiber is, at least approximately 1-2 cm below the outer skin surface of the patient; and
wherein the electrical impulse at least partially relieves a symptom of the primary headache and thereby treats the primary headache. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification