DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TREMOR
First Claim
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1. A wearable device for treating tremor in a patient, the device comprising:
- a decision unit;
a first peripheral nerve effector, comprising at least one stimulation electrode configured to be positioned to modulate an afferent nerve pathway; and
at least one biomechanical sensor configured to measure movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to characterize one or more features of the tremor, the one or more features of the tremor selected from the group consisting of tremor frequency, tremor period, and tremor magnitude;
wherein the decision unit comprises a processor and a memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to;
set one or more parameters of a first electrical stimulus based on the characterization of the one or more features of the tremor; and
deliver the first electrical stimulus to a first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector to reduce tremor in the patient'"'"'s extremity by modifying the patient'"'"'s neural network dynamics.
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Abstract
A peripheral nerve stimulator can be used to stimulate a peripheral nerve to treat essential tremor, Parkinson tremor, and other forms of tremor. The peripheral nerve stimulator can be either a noninvasive surface stimulator or an implanted stimulator. Stimulation can be electrical, mechanical, or chemical. Stimulation can be delivered using either an open loop system or a closed loop system with feedback.
132 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A wearable device for treating tremor in a patient, the device comprising:
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a decision unit; a first peripheral nerve effector, comprising at least one stimulation electrode configured to be positioned to modulate an afferent nerve pathway; and at least one biomechanical sensor configured to measure movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to characterize one or more features of the tremor, the one or more features of the tremor selected from the group consisting of tremor frequency, tremor period, and tremor magnitude; wherein the decision unit comprises a processor and a memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to; set one or more parameters of a first electrical stimulus based on the characterization of the one or more features of the tremor; and deliver the first electrical stimulus to a first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector to reduce tremor in the patient'"'"'s extremity by modifying the patient'"'"'s neural network dynamics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of reducing tremor in a patient, the method comprising:
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measuring one or more characteristics of the tremor using one or more biomechanical sensors worn on one of the patient'"'"'s extremity; positioning a first peripheral nerve effector on the patient'"'"'s skin to stimulate a first afferent nerve; delivering a first electrical nerve stimulation signal to the first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector; and reducing the tremor amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification