TRANSCUTANEOUS NEUROSTIMULATOR FOR MODULATING CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

• US 20100324621A1
• Filed: 08/26/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew P. Kramer, Anthony V. Caparso, Imad Libbus
• Original Assignee: Andrew P. Kramer, Anthony V. Caparso, Imad Libbus
• Inventors: Kramer, Andrew P., Libbus, Imad, Caparso, Anthony V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,571,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/907 Acupuncture

Abstract

A neurostimulation device includes an external neurostimulator worn by a patient using a bracing element that braces a portion of the patient'"'"'s body. The external neurostimulator delivers neurostimulation to modulate a cardiovascular function of the patient. In one embodiment, the external stimulator delivers the neurostimulation transcutaneously to a stimulation target in the patient'"'"'s body using surface stimulation electrodes placed on the body approximately over the stimulation target.

Claims

1. A system for transcutaneous neurostimulation to modulate a cardiovascular function in a body, the system comprising:

a transcutaneous neurostimulation device configured to be worn on the body, the transcutaneous neurostimulation device including;

surface stimulation electrodes configured to be placed on surface of the body;

an external neurostimulator configured to deliver neurostimulation transcutaneously to a stimulation target in the body through the surface stimulation electrodes, the external neurostimulator including;

a stimulation output circuit electrically coupled to the surface stimulation electrodes and configured to deliver the neurostimulation;

a memory circuit;

a stimulation algorithm stored in the memory circuit, the stimulation algorithm including parameters selected to modulate the cardiovascular function;

a stimulation controller coupled to the stimulation output circuit and the memory circuit and configured to control the delivery of the neurostimulation by executing the stimulation algorithm, the stimulation controller including a clock configured to start the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed schedule; and

a chassis housing at least the stimulation output circuit, the memory circuit, and the stimulation controller, wherein at least a first electrode of the surface stimulation electrodes is incorporated onto the chassis; and

a bracing element coupled to the external neurostimulator, the bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body to hold the external neurostimulator on a surface location of the body; and

a portable user communication device including a communicator communicatively coupled to the external neurostimulator via telemetry, the communicator including a user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein bracing element is detachably coupled to the external neurostimulator.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory circuit is configured to store a history of the delivery of the neurostimulation by the external neurostimulator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation controller comprises a feedback controller configured to control the delivery of the neurostimulation using a feedback control signal, and the external stimulator comprises an external sensor electrically coupled to the feedback controller and configured to sense the feedback control signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a user input device and a presentation device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the portable user communication device comprises a further bracing element coupled to the communicator and configured to hold the communicator on the body by bracing a portion of the body.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the user input device comprises a power switch to turn the external neurostimulator on/off.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the presentation device comprises a display configured to present one or more of an on/off status of the external neurostimulator, time, and battery status.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the external neurostimulator comprises an external sensor configured to sense one or more of a heart rate and a blood pressure, and the display is further configured to present one or more of the heart rate and the blood pressure.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the external neurostimulator comprises a rechargeable battery.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the bracing element comprises one or more of a belt having an adjustable length and a sleeve having an adjustable length.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the bracing element is in a form of a wrist band or sleeve.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the bracing element is in a form of a knee band or sleeve.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body to hold the external neurostimulator on the surface location of the body such that the first electrode is approximately on an acupuncture point at which electrical stimulation is known to have anti-remodeling and anti-arrhythmic effects.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the bracing element is configured to hold the first electrode approximately on the GB-34 acupuncture point of the Gall Bladder Meridian of the body.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the stimulation controller comprises an alarm signal generator configured to generate an alarm signal as a reminder of the timed delivery of the neurostimulation.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the clock is configured to start the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed periodic dose for each predetermined period, the periodic dose being a time interval during which the body is treated with the neurostimulation.

18. A system for transcutaneous neurostimulation to modulate a cardiovascular function in a body, the system comprising:

a transcutaneous neurostimulation device configured to be worn on the body, the transcutaneous neurostimulation device including;

surface stimulation electrodes configured to be placed on surface of the body;

an external neurostimulator configured to deliver neurostimulation transcutaneously to a stimulation target in the body through the surface stimulation electrodes, the external neurostimulator including;

a stimulation output circuit electrically coupled to the surface stimulation electrodes and configured to deliver the neurostimulation;

a memory circuit storing a stimulation algorithm including parameters selected to modulate the cardiovascular function;

a stimulation controller coupled to the stimulation output circuit and configured to control the delivery of the neurostimulation by executing the stimulation algorithm, the stimulation controller including a clock configured to start the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed schedule and a feedback controller configured to control the delivery of the neurostimulation using a feedback control signal; and

a stimulator telemetry circuit configured to receive the feedback control signal via telemetry; and

a chassis housing at least the stimulation output circuit, the memory circuit, and the stimulation controller, wherein at least a first electrode of the surface stimulation electrodes is incorporated onto the chassis; and

a bracing element detachably coupled to the external neurostimulator, the bracing element configured to brace a portion of the body to hold the external neurostimulator on a surface location of the body such that the first electrode is approximately on an acupuncture point at which electrical stimulation is known to have cardiovascular effects; and

an implantable medical device including;

a sensor configured to sense a physiologic signal;

a sensor processing circuit configured to produce the feedback control signal using the sensed physiologic signal; and

an implant telemetry circuit configured to transmit the feedback control signal to the external neurostimulator.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the external neurostimulator comprises a user interface coupled to the stimulation controller, the user interface including a user input device and a presentation device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the clock is configured to start the delivery of the neurostimulation according to a programmed periodic dose for each predetermined period, the periodic dose being a time interval during which the body is treated with the neurostimulation.