Movement disorder stimulation with neural block

• US 20050070970A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Wilson, Richard R., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Application Number:
  US10/756,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating patients suffering from involuntary movement disorders (including epilepsy) by stimulating a selected cranial nerve of the patient with an electrical signal applied to induce a signal at brain by applying an electrical signal at the nerve to ameliorate the disorder and by applying a neural conduction block at the nerve selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said nerve at a blocking site and reduce adverse effects of said signal on an organ.

Claims

1. A method of controlling or preventing involuntary movements such as caused by epileptic seizures, cerebral palsy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, spasticity, motor disorders and the like comprising:

applying a stimulation electrical signal to the vagus nerve to thereby prevent or control such movement

applying a neural conduction block to a vagus nerve of said patient at a blocking site with said neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said vagus nerve at said blocking site.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is applied to said nerve between a location of application of said stimulation electrical signal and an organ to be shielded from adverse effects of said stimulation electrical signal.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is applied during application of said stimulation electrical signal.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein application of said neural conduction block is variable by a controller to alter a characteristic of said block.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is a cryogenic block

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is a pharmocologic block

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is an electrical conductive block

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining that an involuntary movement is going to occur and thereafter applying said pulsed electrical signal to said vagus nerve.

20. A method according to claim 1 wherein application of said neural conduction block is variable by a controller to alter a characteristic of said block.

21. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is a cryogenic block.

22. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is a pharmocologic block.

23. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is an electrical conductive block.

9. An apparatus for controlling or preventing involuntary movements such as caused by epileptic seizures, cerebral palsy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, spasticity, motor disorders and the like comprising:

a stimulation electrical signal generator capable of generating pulses having a frequency of approximately between 30 and 300 cycles per second with each pulse having a duration of between approximately 0.3 and 1 millisecond;

a positive electrode adapted to be applied to a person'"'"'s body and means electrically connecting said electrode to said pulse generator;

a negative electrode adapted to be applied to a person'"'"'s body adjacent the vagus nerve;

means for electrically connecting said electrode to said generator;

an electrically controllable neural conduction electrode adapted to be placed on a vagus nerve of said patient at a blocking site between a location of application of said stimulation electrical signal and an organ to be shielded from adverse effects of said stimulation electrical signal; and

a blocking signal generator for generating a blocking signal selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said vagus nerve at said blocking site.

10. A method of controlling or preventing involuntary movements such as caused by epileptic seizures, cerebral palsy, Parkinson'"'"'s disease, spasticity, motor disorders and the like comprising:

determining that an involuntary movement is going to occur and thereafter applying a stimulation electrical signal to the vagus nerve as a point below the inferior cardiac nerve to thereby prevent or control such movement; and

applying a neural conduction block to a vagus nerve of said patient at a blocking site with said neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said vagus nerve at said blocking site.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said neural conduction block is applied to said inferior cardiac nerve.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein said neural conduction block is applied during application of said stimulation electrical signal.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein application of said neural conduction block is variable by a controller to alter a characteristic of said block.

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein said neural conduction block is a cryogenic block.

15. A method according to claim 10 wherein said neural conduction block is a pharmocologic block.

16. A method according to claim 10 wherein said neural conduction block is an electrical conductive block.

17. A method of treating patients suffering from a movement disorder, which comprises the step of:

stimulating a patient'"'"'s vagus nerve with an electrical pulse signal applied directly or indirectly thereto at a location in the immediate vicinity of the patient'"'"'s diaphragm, including selectively programming electrical and timing parameters of said electrical pulse signal according to a predetermined therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder, and

applying a neural conduction block to said vagus nerve of said patient at a blocking site with said neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said vagus nerve at said blocking site.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said neural conduction block is applied to said nerve between a location of application of said stimulation electrical signal and an organ to be shielded from adverse effects of said stimulation electrical signal.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein said neural conduction block is applied during application of said stimulation electrical signal.

24. A method of treating patients suffering from involuntary movement disorders by stimulating a selected cranial nerve of the patient with an electrical signal applied to induce a signal up the nerve toward the brain from a location in the vicinity of the patient'"'"'s diaphragm, including programming electrical and timing parameters of said electrical signal to ameliorate said disorder and programming electrical and timing parameters of a neural_conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said nerve at a blocking site.