Treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders by near-diaphragmatic nerve stimulation
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating patients with neuropsychiatric disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient'"'"'s vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location in the vicinity of the patient'"'"'s diaphragm, either slightly above or slightly below the diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to generate the desired therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder. Patient activation of the device is permitted in the case of treating a neuropsychiatric disorder such as depression, where the patient is able to sense a symptom of a disorder.
-
Citations
32 Claims
-
1-22. -22. (canceled)
- 23. Apparatus for treating patients suffering from a specified neuropsychiatric disorder, comprising a pulse generator sanctioned by government authority for implantation in a patient together with electrode means to stimulate a selected cranial nerve of the patient with a predetermined sequence of electrical impulses from said pulse generator applied to the selected cranial nerve at a location in a range from about two to about three inches above or below the patient'"'"'s diaphragm, for ameliorating symptoms of the specified neuropsychiatric disorder in the patient.
- 30. Apparatus for treating patients suffering from a neuropsychiatric disorder from among schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, or related disorder, said apparatus comprising a pulse generator approved by a government agency of competent authority to be implanted with at least one interconnected nerve electrode in a patient to treat the neuropsychiatric disorder by applying a programmed sequence of electrical impulses generated by said pulse generator to a branch of the patient'"'"'s vagus nerve via said electrode implanted on said nerve at a location in a range from about two to about three inches above or below the patient'"'"'s diaphragm, for relieving symptoms of the neuropsychiatric disorder.
Specification