Method and system for altering regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by providing complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), to provide therapy for depression and other medical disorders
First Claim
1. A method of altering regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and/or altering neurochemicals in the brain for treating or alleviating the symptoms of depression, comprising the steps of providing complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses to a vagus nerve(s) its branches or parts thereof.
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Abstract
A method and system for altering regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) by providing complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s), to provide therapy for depression and other central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Complex electrical pulses comprises pulses which are configured to be one of non-rectangular, multi-level, biphasic, or pulses with varying amplitude during the pulse. The electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) may be stimulating and/or blocking. The stimulation and/or blocking to vagus nerve(s) may be provided using one of the following pulse generation means: 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. The pulse generator means comprises predetermined/pre-packaged programs. In one embodiment, the pulse generation means may also comprise telemetry means, for remote interrogation and/or programming of said pulse generation means utilizing a wide area network.
207 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A method of altering regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and/or altering neurochemicals in the brain for treating or alleviating the symptoms of depression, comprising the steps of providing complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses to a vagus nerve(s) its branches or parts thereof.
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10. A method of providing complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses to a vagus nerve for treating or alleviating the symptoms of depression by altering regional CBF and/or neurochemicals in the brain, comprising the steps of:
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providing pulse generation means capable of generating complex and rectangular electrical pulses, wherein said complex electrical pulses comprises at least one of multi-level pulses, biphasic pulses, non-rectangular pulses, or pulses with varying amplitude during the pulse;
providing a lead in electrical connection with said pulse generation means and with at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve; and
activating said pulse generation means to provide said complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses to vagus nerve, its branches or part(s) thereof for altering regional CBF and/or neurochemicals in the brain. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of stimulating and/or blocking a vagus nerve, its branches or parts thereof to alter regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and/or to alter neurochemicals in the brain with complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses, wherein said complex electrical pulses comprises at least one of multi-level pulses, biphasic pulses, non-rectangular pulses, or pulses with varying amplitude during the pulse, comprises the steps of:
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providing pulse generation means for generating complex and/or rectangular electrical pulses, which is one from a group comprising;
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;
providing a lead in electrical connection with said pulse generation means, and with at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve; and
activating said pulse generation means to provide said rectangular and/or complex electrical pulses to selectively stimulate and/or block said vagus nerve, its branches or part(s) thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification