Devices and methods for non-invasive electrical stimulation and their use for Vagal nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- an enclosure hosting a contact surface;
a power source positioned within the enclosure and configured to generate an electric field comprising bursts of pulses having a frequency from about 5 bursts per second to about 100 bursts per second with each of the pulses generated from a signal that is not modulated by another signal;
an electrode coupled to the power source and positioned within the enclosure;
an electrically conductive medium positioned between the electrode and the contact surface, wherein the power source is configured to transmit the electric field from the electrode through the electrically conductive medium and the contact surface transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of a patient to a nerve within the patient at a target region within the patient beneath the outer skin surface such that the electric field is able to modulate the nerve and thereby treat at least one of a disorder or a disease of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive electrical stimulation device shapes an elongated electric field of effect that can be oriented parallel to a long nerve, such as a vagus nerve in a patient'"'"'s neck, producing a desired physiological response in the patient. The stimulator comprises a source of electrical power, at least one electrode and a continuous electrically conducting medium in which the electrode(s) are in contact. The stimulation device is configured to produce a peak pulse voltage that is sufficient to produce a physiologically effective electric field in the vicinity of a target nerve, but not to substantially stimulate other nerves and muscles that lie between the vicinity of the target nerve and patient'"'"'s skin. Current is passed through the electrodes in bursts of preferably five sinusoidal pulses, wherein each pulse within a burst has a duration of preferably 200 microseconds, and bursts repeat at preferably at 15-50 bursts per second.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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an enclosure hosting a contact surface; a power source positioned within the enclosure and configured to generate an electric field comprising bursts of pulses having a frequency from about 5 bursts per second to about 100 bursts per second with each of the pulses generated from a signal that is not modulated by another signal; an electrode coupled to the power source and positioned within the enclosure; an electrically conductive medium positioned between the electrode and the contact surface, wherein the power source is configured to transmit the electric field from the electrode through the electrically conductive medium and the contact surface transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of a patient to a nerve within the patient at a target region within the patient beneath the outer skin surface such that the electric field is able to modulate the nerve and thereby treat at least one of a disorder or a disease of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification