Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation to treat disorders
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a device in contact with an outer skin surface of the patient;
generating, via the device, an electric current externally to the patient; and
transmitting, via the device, the electric current transcutaneously through the outer skin surface to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electric current alone is sufficient to generate an electric field from about 10 V/m to about 600 V/m at the vagus nerve above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating a neural pathways causing a modulation of a neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient.
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Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient'"'"'s brain.
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23 Claims
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1. A method for treating a disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device in contact with an outer skin surface of the patient; generating, via the device, an electric current externally to the patient; and transmitting, via the device, the electric current transcutaneously through the outer skin surface to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electric current alone is sufficient to generate an electric field from about 10 V/m to about 600 V/m at the vagus nerve above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating a neural pathways causing a modulation of a neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for treating a disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device in contact with an outer skin surface of the patient; generating, via the device, an electric current externally to the patient; and transmitting, via the device, the electric current transcutaneously through the outer skin surface to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electric current alone is sufficient to generate an electric field gradient at the vagus nerve greater than about 2 V/m/mm above a threshold for generating an action potentials within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating a neural pathway causing a modulation of a neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient, and the electric current is not sufficient to modulate the nerves between the outer skin surface of the patient and the vagus nerve. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for treating a disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of the patient; generating an electric current within the housing; and transmitting the electric current transcutaneously from the housing through the outer skin surface to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electric current alone is sufficient to generate an electric field from about 10 V/m to about 600 V/m at the vagus nerve above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating a neural pathways causing a modulation of a neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient.
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Specification