Vagus nerve stimulation via unidirectional propagation of action potentials
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Method of stimulating a vagus nerve, comprising:
- providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes;
configuring the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a vagus nerve;
applying the stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively select afferent fibers, thereby treating at least one of epilepsy and depression while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of using unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs) for vagus nerve stimulation and for certain disorders are provided. Stimulators capable of creating such UPAPs include, but are not limited to, miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators), possibly with programmably configurable electrodes.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. Method of stimulating a vagus nerve, comprising:
-
providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes;
configuring the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a vagus nerve;
applying the stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively select afferent fibers, thereby treating at least one of epilepsy and depression while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. Method of stimulating a vagus nerve, comprising:
-
providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes;
configuring the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates the action potentials along a vagus nerve;
applying the stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively select efferent fibers, thereby treating tachycardia while limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. Method of stimulating a vagus nerve, comprising:
-
providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes;
configuring the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a vagus nerve;
applying the stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively select orthodromic action potentials traveling in one direction along the nerve, thereby limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. Method of stimulating a vagus nerve, comprising the steps of:
-
providing at least one implantable stimulator with at least two electrodes;
configuring the electrodes to apply stimulation that unidirectionally propagates action potentials along a vagus nerve;
applying the stimulation to the vagus nerve to effectively select orthodromic action potentials traveling in one direction along the nerve, thereby limiting side effects of bidirectional stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
-
Specification