Selective nerve stimulation for the treatment of angina pectoris
First Claim
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1. A method of treating angina pectoris in a patient, the method comprising:
- applying a therapeutic electrical signal to an electrode coupled to a cranial nerve of the patient at a selected site on the nerve, the signal being effective to dilate at least a portion of a coronary artery of the patient and thereby alleviate the angina without significantly slowing the heart rate ofthe patient.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for electrically stimulating a cranial nerve, especially a vagus nerve, to treat or alleviate angina pectoris. Pain is lessened or prevented by application of predetermined therapeutic electrical signal to a selected location on the cranial nerve of a patient using an implanted neurostimulating device. Such method employs selective application of electrical signals to a predetermined location on the nerve to alter the activity of the nerve and cause dilation of a coronary artery in the patient, which in turn provides complete or partial relief of chest pain or deters the onset of such pain.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of treating angina pectoris in a patient, the method comprising:
applying a therapeutic electrical signal to an electrode coupled to a cranial nerve of the patient at a selected site on the nerve, the signal being effective to dilate at least a portion of a coronary artery of the patient and thereby alleviate the angina without significantly slowing the heart rate ofthe patient. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
- 2. The method of claim 2 wherein said electrode is coupled to a vagus nerve of the patient.
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17. A method of selectively dilating a coronary artery in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
applying at least one therapeutic electrical signal to an electrode coupled to a cranial nerve of the patient at a selected site on said nerve effective to dilate at least a portion of the coronary artery and thereby increasing blood flow to the patient'"'"'s heart such that the increased arterial blood flow alleviates angina without significantly slowing the patients heart rate. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable apparatus for deterring or preventing vasoconstriction or spasm of a coronary artery in a patient in need thereof the apparatus comprising:
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an electrode coupled to a cranial nerve of the patient to stimulate said cranial nerve;
a power supply;
a pulse generator coupled to said power supply and to said electrode, wherein said pulse generator is adapted to apply a therapeutic electrical signal to said cranial nerve using said electrode, wherein said electrical signal is effective to modulate neuronal activity of said cranial nerve to counteract constriction of at least a portion of the artery without significantly slowing the patient'"'"'s heart rate.
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Specification