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 electrically conductive interface coupled to the electrodes and positionable against an outer skin surface of the patienta 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.
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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.
180 Citations
17 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 electrically conductive 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, 11)
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10. 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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12. 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 electrically conductive 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 electrically conductive 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 (13, 14, 16, 17)
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15. The device of 12 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.
Specification