Treatment of patients in coma by nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A method of treating a patient in coma, comprising the stepsplacing at least one electrode of an electrode array in juxtaposition with a preselected cranial nerve of the patient for electrical stimulation thereof;
- applying an electrical pulse waveform to said electrode array to stimulate said cranial nerve; and
adjusting electrical parameters of said pulse waveform to modulate electrical activity of said cranial nerve in an effort to rouse the patient from the coma.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of treating a patient in coma is performed by placing an electrode in juxtaposition with a preselected cranial nerve of the patient for electrical stimulation of the nerve, applying an electrical pulse waveform to the electrode to stimulate the cranial nerve, and adjusting electrical parameters of the pulse waveform to modulate electrical activity of the nerve in an effort to rouse the patient from the coma. The patient'"'"'s response to the treatment is monitored and assessed by the attending physician according to Glasgow coma scale. The preferred cranial nerve is the vagus nerve, and the stimulation is performed either for acute treatment by positioning an esophageal electrode in the patient for stimulating a region of the vagus nerve in the neck, or for longer term treatment by implanting a nerve electrode on the vagus nerve. The electrical parameters of the pulse waveform to be adjusted, by programming, include pulse frequency, pulse width, pulse current, pulse voltage, waveform on time, and waveform off time. The programming is performed to control the patient'"'"'s EEG activity by said modulation of the electrical activity of the vagus nerve. Preferably, the EEG activity is desynchronized.
691 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of treating a patient in coma, comprising the steps
placing at least one electrode of an electrode array in juxtaposition with a preselected cranial nerve of the patient for electrical stimulation thereof; -
applying an electrical pulse waveform to said electrode array to stimulate said cranial nerve; and adjusting electrical parameters of said pulse waveform to modulate electrical activity of said cranial nerve in an effort to rouse the patient from the coma. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of therapy for a comatose patient, comprising the steps of:
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placing an electrode array on said patient to electrically interact with a preselected cranial nerve of the patient; applying an electrical pulse waveform to said electrode array to stimulate said preselected cranial nerve; and programming electrical parameters of said applied pulse waveform to modulate electrical activity of said cranial nerve in an effort to rouse the patient from the coma. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification