Implantable Medical Device for Providing Chronic Condition Therapy and Acute Condition Therapy Using Vagus Nerve Stimulation
First Claim
1. A method of treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device, comprising:
- applying to a cranial nerve a first electrical signal characterized by having at least one microburst of a plurality of pulses during a first time period to treat the medical condition, the first time period characterized by a time period during which there is no indication that an acute condition has occurred; and
applying a second electrical signal to the cranial nerve to treat the medical condition in response to an indication of an acute event associated with the medical condition for treating the acute event, the second electrical signal characterized by at least one burst of a plurality of pulses during a second time period that is greater than a microburst duration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device (IMD). The IMD is capable of generating a first electrical signal for treating a medical condition, for example epilepsy. The first electrical signal relates to a long term therapy during a first time period in which there is no indication that the patient'"'"'s brain is in an stable state, the first electrical signal being a microburst stimulation signal. The implantable device is also capable of generating a second electrical signal for treating the medical condition. The second electrical signal relates to a short term therapy during a second time period, in response to an indication that the patient'"'"'s brain is in an unstable state. The second electrical signal in one example, may be a conventional stimulation signal.
162 Citations
22 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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applying to a cranial nerve a first electrical signal characterized by having at least one microburst of a plurality of pulses during a first time period to treat the medical condition, the first time period characterized by a time period during which there is no indication that an acute condition has occurred; and applying a second electrical signal to the cranial nerve to treat the medical condition in response to an indication of an acute event associated with the medical condition for treating the acute event, the second electrical signal characterized by at least one burst of a plurality of pulses during a second time period that is greater than a microburst duration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of treating an epilepsy condition of a patient, comprising:
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coupling at least one electrode to at least one cranial nerve of the patient; providing a programmable electrical signal generator coupled to the electrode; generating a first electrical signal for providing a chronic stimulation therapy for treating the epilepsy condition; applying said first electrical signal to said at least one cranial nerve for a first time period in which there is no indication that the patient has entered into an unstable brain state, said first electrical signal being a microburst stimulation signal; generating a second electrical signal for providing an acute stimulation therapy for treating the epilepsy condition; and applying said second electrical signal for a second time period in response to an indication that the patient has entered into an unstable brain state, wherein said second electrical signal is not a microburst signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for treating a medical condition, comprising:
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at least one electrode coupled to at least one cranial nerve of a patient, and an implantable medical device operatively coupled to the electrode and comprising a programmable electrical signal generator capable of generating a first electrical signal for providing a chronic stimulation therapy for treating the medical condition, wherein said first electrical signal is applied for a first time period in which there is no indication of an acute event associated with the medical condition, said first electrical signal being a microburst stimulation signal;
the implantable medical device also being capable of generating a second electrical signal for providing an acute stimulation therapy for treating the medical condition, wherein said second electrical signal is applied for a second time period in response to an indication of an acute event associated with the medical condition, wherein said second electrical signal is not a microburst signal. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A computer readable program storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method of treating an epilepsy condition in a patient using an implantable medical device, comprising:
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applying a first electrical signal to a vagus nerve for a first time period in which there is no indication that an epileptic seizure has occurred or is imminent, wherein said first electrical signal is a microburst signal; and applying a second electrical signal to the vagus nerve in response to an indication that an epileptic seizure has occurred or is imminent, wherein said second electrical signal is not a microburst signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification