Changeable electrode polarity stimulation by an implantable medical device
First Claim
1. A method of treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device, comprising:
- coupling at least a first electrode and a second electrode to a cranial nerve of the patient,providing a programmable electrical signal generator coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode,generating a first electrical signal with the electrical signal generator,applying the first electrical signal to the electrodes, wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode,reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode,generating a second electrical signal with the electrical signal generator,applying the second electrical signal to the electrodes,reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode,generating a third electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, andapplying the third electrical signal to the electrodes.
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Abstract
We disclose a method of treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device including coupling at least a first electrode and a second electrode to a cranial nerve of the patient, providing a programmable electrical signal generator coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, generating a first electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, applying the first electrical signal to the electrodes, wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode, reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode, generating a second electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, applying the second electrical signal to the electrodes, reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode, generating a third electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, and applying the third electrical signal to the electrodes. Each of the electrical signals can independently contain one or more pulses or one or more bursts. The number of pulses need not be equal between any two of the electrical signals.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device, comprising:
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coupling at least a first electrode and a second electrode to a cranial nerve of the patient, providing a programmable electrical signal generator coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode, generating a first electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, applying the first electrical signal to the electrodes, wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode, reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode, generating a second electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, applying the second electrical signal to the electrodes, reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode, generating a third electrical signal with the electrical signal generator, and applying the third electrical signal to the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a method of neuromodulation effected by delivery, using at least two electrodes, to a cranial nerve of an electrical signal characterized by a number of electrical pulses, the improvement comprising:
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delivering a first electrical signal using a first electrode as a cathode and a second electrode as an anode; reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode; delivering a second electrical signal using the first electrode and the second electrode; reversing the polarity of the first electrode and the second electrode, yielding a configuration wherein the first electrode is a cathode and the second electrode is an anode; and delivering a third electrical signal using the first electrode and the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for treating a medical condition in a patient, comprising:
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at least two electrodes coupled to at least one cranial nerve of a patient, and an implantable device operatively coupled to the electrodes and comprising an electrical signal generator capable of applying an electrical signal to the cranial nerve using the electrodes to treat the medical condition and an electrode polarity reversal unit capable of reversibly reversing the configuration of the electrodes.
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20. An implantable medical device to treat a medical condition in a patient, comprising:
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two or more electrodes; a controller capable of receiving internal data and/or external data and generating and delivering a stimulation signal to target tissues of the patient'"'"'s body; a stimulation unit capable of generating and delivering an electrical signal therapy signal to the two or more electrodes; and an electrode polarity reversal unit capable of reversing the polarity of the two or more electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification