Method and system for providing therapy for Alzheimer's disease and dementia by providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s)
First Claim
1. A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease by stimulating and/or blocking vagus nerve(s) or its branches or parts thereof with pre-determined electric pulses, which comprises:
- a) selecting a patient with dementia or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease;
b) providing a pulse generator means capable of providing both stimulating and blocking electrical pulses for treating or alleviating the symptoms of dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease;
c) implanting at least one lead adapted to be in electrical connection with said pulse generator means; and
d) providing at least one electrode at the distal end of said at least one lead wherein, said at least one electrode is adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof, to deliver said pre-determined electric pulses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for providing predetermined electrical pulses for neuromodulating vagus nerve(s) or its branches to provide therapy for dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease, comprises implantable and external components. The electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) may be stimulating and/or blocking. The pulsed electrical stimulation/blocking to vagus nerve(s) may be provided using one of the following stimulation systems, such as: a) an implanted stimulus-receiver with an external stimulator; b) an implanted stimulus-receiver comprising a high value capacitor for storing charge, used in conjunction with an external stimulator; c) a programmer-less implantable pulse generator (IPG) which is operable with a magnet; d) a microstimulator; e) a programmable implantable pulse generator; f) a combination implantable device comprising both a stimulus-receiver and a programmable implantable pulse generator (IPG); and g) an implantable pulse generator (IPG) comprising a rechargeable battery. In one embodiment, the external components such as the programmer or external stimulator may comprise a telemetry means for networking. The telemetry means therefore allows for interrogation or programming of implanted device, from a remote location over a wide area network.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease by stimulating and/or blocking vagus nerve(s) or its branches or parts thereof with pre-determined electric pulses, which comprises:
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a) selecting a patient with dementia or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease;
b) providing a pulse generator means capable of providing both stimulating and blocking electrical pulses for treating or alleviating the symptoms of dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease;
c) implanting at least one lead adapted to be in electrical connection with said pulse generator means; and
d) providing at least one electrode at the distal end of said at least one lead wherein, said at least one electrode is adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof, to deliver said pre-determined electric pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease by stimulating and/or blocking vagus nerve(s) or its branches or parts thereof with pre-determined electric pulses, which comprises:
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a) providing a pulse generator means to provide said pre-determined electrical pulses, wherein said pulse generator means comprises microprocessor, circuitry, and memory;
b) providing at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs stored in said memory, wherein said predetermined/pre-packaged programs define parameters of pulse amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, on-time and off-time sequences;
b) providing a means for activating and/or adjusting parameters of said predetermined/pre-packaged programs; and
c) providing at least one implantable lead adapted to be in electrical connection with said pulse generator means, and having at least one electrode at the distal end of said at least one lead adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof, to deliver said pre-determined electric pulses. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of providing stimulating and/or blocking electric pulses to a vagus nerve(s) with external or implanted pulse generator means for providing cumulative therapy for dementia and Alzhemer'"'"'s disease, comprising the steps of:
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a) selecting a patient for said therapy;
b) selecting said pulse generation means for said therapy from a group consisting of i) an external stimulator used in conjunction with an implanted stimulus-receiver comprising a high value capacitor for storing electric charge;
ii) a microstimulator;
iii) a programmable implantable pulse generator (IPG);
iv) a combination implantable device comprising both a programmable implantable pulse generator (IPG) and a stimulus-receiver;
v) a programmable implantable pulse generator (IPG) having a rechargeable battery.c) providing an implanted lead adapted to be in electrical connection with said pulse generator means for providing said cumulative therapy; and
d) providing at least one electrode at the distal end of said lead, wherein said at least one electrode is adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s) or its branches or part thereof, to deliver said pre-determined electric pulses. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification