DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE NERVE STIMULATION
First Claim
1. An implantable pulse generator (106) connected or connectable to a stimulation lead (100) having stimulation electrodes (102, 104) for delivery of stimulation pulses, the implantable pulse generator (106) including:
- a. a stimulation unit (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) configured to generate electric stimulation pulses for nerve stimulation,b. a control unit (50) configured to trigger delivery of generated electric stimulation pulses via selected stimulation electrodes (102, 104), wherein the electric stimulation pulses form a pulse train including;
i) an initial selective-arrest phase for large-diameter nerve fibers in the vicinity of the selected stimulation electrodes,ii) followed by a charge-balanced phase wherein charge-balanced alternating current is applied between the same or other selected stimulation electrodes,iii) and where such charge-balanced alternating current is briefly unbalanced to deliver a nerve stimulation therapy pulse, with charge-balanced alternating current again being applied following the therapy pulse.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable pulse generator (106) provides electric stimulation pulses for nerve stimulation via a stimulation lead (100) having stimulation electrodes (102, 104). The electric stimulation pulses form a pulse train including (i) an initial selective-arrest phase for the large-diameter fibers in the vicinity of selected electrodes; (ii) followed by a charge-balanced phase where a charge-balanced alternating current (AC) is applied between the same or other selected electrodes; and (iii) a therapy phase where the charge-balanced alternating current (AC) is briefly unbalanced to deliver nerve stimulation therapy pulses, with the pulse train returning to the charge-balanced phase in between therapy pulses.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An implantable pulse generator (106) connected or connectable to a stimulation lead (100) having stimulation electrodes (102, 104) for delivery of stimulation pulses, the implantable pulse generator (106) including:
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a. a stimulation unit (36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) configured to generate electric stimulation pulses for nerve stimulation, b. a control unit (50) configured to trigger delivery of generated electric stimulation pulses via selected stimulation electrodes (102, 104), wherein the electric stimulation pulses form a pulse train including; i) an initial selective-arrest phase for large-diameter nerve fibers in the vicinity of the selected stimulation electrodes, ii) followed by a charge-balanced phase wherein charge-balanced alternating current is applied between the same or other selected stimulation electrodes, iii) and where such charge-balanced alternating current is briefly unbalanced to deliver a nerve stimulation therapy pulse, with charge-balanced alternating current again being applied following the therapy pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implantable pulse generator configured to deliver electric nerve stimulation pulses to selected electrodes within a set of stimulation electrodes situated about the vagus nerve, wherein the electric nerve stimulation pulses define a pulse train including:
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i) an initial selective-arrest phase including one or more pulses configured to arrest action potentials of large-diameter laryngeal and/or pharyngeal nerve fibers nearby the stimulation electrodes, ii) a subsequent charge-balanced phase wherein charge-balanced alternating current pulses are applied between the same or other selected stimulation electrodes, the alternating current pulses being configured to promote blocking of conduction by the large-diameter nerve fibers, wherein the charge-balanced alternating current pulses are interrupted by a nerve stimulation therapy phase including one or more unbalanced nerve stimulation therapy pulses configured to stimulate smaller-diameter cardiac nerve fibers. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of delivering electric nerve stimulation pulses from an implantable pulse generator to selected electrodes within a set of stimulation electrodes situated about the vagus nerve, the method including delivering the electric nerve stimulation pulses as a pulse train including:
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i) an initial selective-arrest phase including one or more pulses configured to arrest action potentials of large-diameter laryngeal and/or pharyngeal nerve fibers nearby the stimulation electrodes, ii) a subsequent charge-balanced phase wherein charge-balanced alternating current pulses are applied between the same or other selected stimulation electrodes, the alternating current pulses being configured to promote blocking of conduction by the large-diameter nerve fibers, wherein the charge-balanced alternating current pulses are interrupted by a nerve stimulation therapy phase including one or more unbalanced nerve stimulation therapy pulses configured to stimulate smaller-diameter cardiac nerve fibers.
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Specification