Stimulator for auricular branch of vagus nerve
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a lead with a neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed in an external auditory canal to stimulate the auricular nerve branch;
a neural stimulation circuit connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal adapted to stimulate the auricular nerve branch using the neural stimulation electrode; and
a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to provide a vagal stimulation therapy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve are provided herein. Various device embodiments comprise a lead, a neural stimulation circuit, and a controller. The lead has a neural stimulation electrode. The neural stimulation circuit is connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal adapted to stimulate the auricular nerve branch using the neural stimulation electrode. The controller is connected to the neural stimulation circuit and is adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to provide a vagal stimulation therapy. In various embodiments, the electrode is adapted to be placed in an external auditory canal. In various embodiments, the electrode includes a transcutaneous neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed behind an ear. Other embodiments are provided herein.
300 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a lead with a neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed in an external auditory canal to stimulate the auricular nerve branch;
a neural stimulation circuit connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal adapted to stimulate the auricular nerve branch using the neural stimulation electrode; and
a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to provide a vagal stimulation therapy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device, comprising:
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a lead with a transcutaneous neural stimulation electrode to be placed behind an ear to transcutaneously stimulate the auricular nerve branch;
a neural stimulation circuit connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal adapted to stimulate the auricular nerve branch using the neural stimulation electrode; and
a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to provide a vagal stimulation therapy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A device, comprising:
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at least one port to connect at least one lead, the at least one lead including at least one neural stimulation electrode and at least one physiology sensor;
a neural stimulation circuit connected to the at least one port to selectively deliver a neural stimulation signal to the neural stimulation electrode to stimulate the auricular nerve branch;
a feedback circuit connected to the at least one port to receive a feedback signal from the at least one physiology sensor; and
a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to deliver the neural stimulation signal to the neural stimulation electrode, the controller further being connected to the feedback circuit and adapted to adjust the neural stimulation signal in response to the feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method to provide vagal stimulation, comprising:
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positioning a non-invasive neural stimulation electrode proximate to an auricular nerve branch of a vagus nerve; and
applying a neural stimulation signal to the electrode to transcutaneously stimulate the auricular nerve branch. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification