Method and system to provide therapy for depression using electroconvulsive therapy(ECT) and pulsed electrical stimulation to vagus nerve(s)
First Claim
1. A method of providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to a patient to provide synergistic/addative benefits of said electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treating or alleviating the symptoms of depression, comprising the steps of:
- a) selecting a patient, wherein said patient is an electroconvulsive therapy patient, and b) providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof, whereby, said patient is provided said electroconvulsive therapy and vagus nerve(s) electrical stimulation.
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Abstract
A method and system for providing therapy or alleviating the symptoms of depression (including bipolar depression, unipolar depression, severe depression, treatment resistant depression, and melancholia), by providing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to the brain and pulsed electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve(s) for afferent neuromodulation. ECT is provided via two electrodes placed on the head, either in the unilateral or bilateral configuration. Constant-current (or constant-voltage) stimuli are provided using brief-pulsed outputs at frequencies between 30 Hz and 100 Hz. The transcranial stimuli delivered are strong enough to induce seizures. Pulsed electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve(s) may be provided continuously in ON-OFF repeating cycles. The two electrical stimulation therapies (ECT and VNS) may be given in any order, any combination, or any sequence as determined by the physician. The two electrical stimulation therapies may also be used with or without pharmaceutical therapy. Pulsed electrical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) may be provided using an implanted pulse generator (IPG) or an external stimulator used in conjunction with an implanted stimulus-receiver. In one aspect of the invention the pulse generator system may comprise communication capabilities for networking over a wide area network, for remote interrogation and programming.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to a patient to provide synergistic/addative benefits of said electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treating or alleviating the symptoms of depression, comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a patient, wherein said patient is an electroconvulsive therapy patient, and b) providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof, whereby, said patient is provided said electroconvulsive therapy and vagus nerve(s) electrical stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of combining electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pulsed electrical stimulation to vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof in a patient, for treating or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of depression, bipolar depression, unipolar depression, severe depression, treatment resistant depression, and melancholia, comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a depression patient;
b) providing electroconvulsive therapy to said patient; and
c) providing electrical pulses to said vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof in said patient. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 17)
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14. A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of depression by providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof and providing electrical pulses transcranially to the brain of a patient with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a patient;
b) providing electroconvulsive therapy to said patient; and
c) providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof in said patient. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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18. A method of combining the therapeutic benefits of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pulsed electrical stimulation to vagus nerve(s), and/or its branches or part thereof in a patient for treating or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of depression, bipolar depression, unipolar depression, severe depression, treatment resistant depression, and melancholia, comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a patient for providing said benefit;
b) providing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), wherein said electroconvulsive therapy comprises placing at least one electrode means on patient'"'"'s head and an external signal delivering means; and
c) providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), comprising a lead with at least one electrode in contact with said vagus nerve and electrically connected to pulse generator means. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification