DEVICES AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE CAPACITIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AND THEIR USE FOR VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION ON THE NECK OF A PATIENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising:
- a source of energy for generating an electric field;
one or more electrodes coupled to the source of energy;
an interface coupled to the electrodes and positionable against an outer skin surface of the patient a conduction medium electrically coupling the electrodes with the interface;
andwherein the source of energy is configured to deliver one or more electrical impulses from the electrodes through the conductive medium, the interface and the outer skin surface to a nerve at a target region within the patient.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A non-invasive electrical stimulation device shapes an elongated electric field of effect that can be oriented parallel to a long nerve, such as a vagus nerve in a patient'"'"'s neck, producing a desired physiological response in the patient. The stimulator comprises a source of electrical power, at least one electrode and a continuous electrically conducting medium in which the electrode(s) are in contact. The stimulation device is configured to produce a peak pulse voltage that is sufficient to produce a physiologically effective electric field in the vicinity of a target nerve, but not to substantially stimulate other nerves and muscles that lie between the vicinity of the target nerve and patient'"'"'s skin. Current is passed through the electrodes in bursts of preferably five sinusoidal pulses, wherein each pulse within a burst has a duration of preferably 200 microseconds, and bursts repeat at preferably at 15-50 bursts per second.
110 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An apparatus for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising:
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a source of energy for generating an electric field; one or more electrodes coupled to the source of energy; an interface coupled to the electrodes and positionable against an outer skin surface of the patient a conduction medium electrically coupling the electrodes with the interface; and wherein the source of energy is configured to deliver one or more electrical impulses from the electrodes through the conductive medium, the interface and the outer skin surface to a nerve at a target region within the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13)
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12. The apparatus of 1 wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electrical field comprising bursts of between 1 and 20 pulses with each pulse about 50-1000 microseconds in duration.
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14. A device for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising:
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a handheld device comprising a enclosure with an interior and an interface configured for contact with an outer skin surface of a patient; a source of energy housed within the interior of the enclosure; one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure; a conduction medium within the enclosure and electrically coupling the electrodes with the interface; and wherein the source of energy is configured to apply an electrical impulse through the interface of the enclosure transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of the patient to a nerve at a target region below the outer skin surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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17. The device of 14 wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electrical field comprising bursts of between 1 and 20 pulses with each pulse about 50-1000 microseconds in duration.
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22. A device for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising:
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a source of energy for generating an electric field comprising bursts of sinusoidal pulses; one or more electrodes coupled to the source of energy; an interface coupled to the electrodes and positionable against an outer skin surface of a patient; and wherein the source of energy is configured to apply one or more electrical impulses through the interface transcutaneously through the outer skin surface to one or more nerves at a target region with the body of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A kit comprising:
- a non-invasive nerve stimulator device and instructions on the use of the non-invasive nerve stimulator device,
wherein the non-invasive nerve stimulator device comprises, an electrode to be placed in communication with a subject'"'"'s neck, a power supply, and an impulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- a non-invasive nerve stimulator device and instructions on the use of the non-invasive nerve stimulator device,
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36. A system for instructing an individual to treat medical conditions comprising:
a non-invasive nerve stimulator configured to be placed in communication with a subject'"'"'s neck and an instruction sheet for using the non-invasive nerve stimulator. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method of instructing an individual in the use of a device to treat bronchial constriction in a patient comprising:
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instructing the individual to position the device to stimulate selected nerve fibers that control or mediate the dilation of smooth muscle, wherein the stimulation comprises transmitting one or more pulses of energy to said nerve fibers to stimulate them non-invasively. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification