Apparatus and method for adjunct (add-on) therapy of Dementia and Alzheimer's disease utilizing an implantable lead and external stimulator

• US 6,269,270 B1
• Filed: 10/26/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neuro and Cardiac Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Birinder Bob Boveja
• Inventors: Boveja, Birinder Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaetzle, Kennedy
• Application Number:
  US09/178,057
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 607/45, 607/46, 607/2, 607/59, 607/60
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An apparatus and method for adjunct (add-on) therapy of dementia and Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprises an implantable lead-receiver, an external stimulator having controlling circuitry and a power source, and an electrode to inductively couple the stimulator to the lead-receiver. The external stimulator emits electrical pulses to stimulate a cranial nerve such as the left vagus nerve according to a predetermined program selected from at least two predetermined programs.

Claims

1. A method to provide therapy for at least one of dementia or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising;

a) providing an implantable lead-receiver comprising at least one electrode to stimulate a cranial nerve and a secondary coil electrically coupled to said at least one electrode;

b) providing an external stimulator comprising circuitry to emit electrical signals, at least two predetermined programs to control said electrical signals, an external coil and a power supply;

c) activating one of said at least two predetermined programs of said external stimulator to emit said electrical signals to said external coil;

d) inductively transferring said electrical signals from said external coil of said external stimulator to said secondary coil of said lead-receiver;

whereby said electrical signals stimulate said cranial nerve according to one of said at least two predetermined programs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cranial nerve is the left vagus nerve.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said lead receiver comprises a plurality of electrodes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating one of said at least two predetermined programs is manually performed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising manually controlling said electrical signals to stimulate said cranial nerve.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

a) said electrical signals comprise at least one variable component selected from the group consisting of the current amplitude, pulse width, frequency, and on-off timing sequence; and

b) said at least two predetermined programs controls said variable component of said electrical signals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising manually disengaging said at least two predetermined programs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least two predetermined programs comprises at least three predetermined programs.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least two predetermined programs comprises at least six predetermined programs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least two predetermined programs comprises approximately nine predetermined programs.

11. A method for providing therapy for the treatment of at least one of dementia or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising:

a) selecting one of at least two predetermined programs to control the output of an external stimulator;

b) activating said external stimulator to emit electrical signals in accordance with said one of at least two predetermined programs; and

c) inductively coupling said external stimulator with an implantable lead-receiver to stimulate a cranial nerve.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising implanting beneath the skin of a patient said lead-receiver in direct electrical contact with said cranial nerve.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said predetermined programs comprises at least six predetermined programs.

14. A method to provide therapy for at least one of dementia or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising;

a) providing an implantable lead-receiver comprising at least one electrode capable of providing a direct electrical contact with a cranial nerve and a secondary coil electrically coupled to said at least one electrode;

b) providing an external stimulator comprising circuitry to emit electrical signals, at least three predetermined programs to control said electrical signals, an external coil and a power supply;

c) activating one of said predetermined programs of said external stimulator to emit said electrical signals to said external coil;

d) inductively transferring said electrical signals from said external coil of said external stimulator to said secondary coil of said lead-receiver;

whereby said electrical signals stimulate said cranial nerve according to at least one of said predetermined programs.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said predetermined programs comprises at least six predetermined programs.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said predetermined programs comprises at least nine predetermined programs.