Device and procedure to treat cardiac atrial arrhythmias

• US 20050197600A1
• Filed: 12/10/2003
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neurosignal Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neurosignal Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Schuler, Eleanor L., Lee, Claude K.
• Application Number:
  US10/732,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197600A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/03 especially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven

Abstract

A non-invasive vagal stimulation device and method. The device comprises a body having a vibration member. The stimulation is created by the vibration member which has a vibratory rate that can be adjusted from being off to a preferred operating range. The non-invasive stimulation method consists of placing the non-invasive stimulation device in the vicinity of the carotid artery bifrication where arises a carotid sinus and body which contain afferent sensory nerves that travel to medulla oblongata of brain, and either applying pressure in place, or moving the device along the target arm. The method can be accomplished either with the vibration feature of the device turned on or off.

Claims

1. An apparatus for non-invasively treating cardiac irregularities via vagal stimulation comprising a vibration member having a size and shape sufficient to stimulate the vicinity of the vagal nerve.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a motor operably connected to the vibration member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, including means for operating said motor at variable speeds.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a housing from which said vibration member extends, and further including handgrips on said housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, including at least one display indicative of operation of the apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, in which the display comprises one or more lights indicative of operation of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a display indicating the rate of vibration.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, in which the display includes a read-out of the rate of vibration.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, including vibratory means for stimulation of carotid and sinus body afferent nerves located at bifracation of carotid artery.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the vibration member includes a vibration tip.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, in which the vibration tip measures approximately one-half inch wide by one-quarter inch deep and one inch long.