APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUNCT (ADD-ON) THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION, MIGRAINE, NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, PARTIAL COMPLEX EPILEPSY, GENERALIZED EPILEPSY AND INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENT DISORDERS UTILIZING AN EXTERNAL STIMULATOR
First Claim
1. An apparatus for electrical stimulation therapy for treatment of at least one of depression, migraine and neuropsychiatric disorders comprising:
- a) an implantable lead-receiver comprising a secondary coil and at least one electrode capable of stimulating a cranial nerve;
b) an external stimulator comprising a power source, circuitry to emit electrical signals, at least two predetermined programs to control said electrical signals, and a primary coil;
c) said primary coil of said external stimulator and said secondary coil of said implantable lead-receiver being capable of forming an electrical connection by inductive coupling, whereby said external stimulator is capable of controlling the stimulation of said cranial nerve.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for adjunct (add-on) therapy of depression, migraine, neuropsychiatric disorders, partial complex epilepsy, generalized epilepsy and involuntary movement disorders comprises an implantable lead-receiver, and an external stimulator having controlling circuitry, a power source, and a coil 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. In a second mode of operation, an operator may manually override the predetermined sequence of stimulation.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for electrical stimulation therapy for treatment of at least one of depression, migraine and neuropsychiatric disorders comprising:
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a) an implantable lead-receiver comprising a secondary coil and at least one electrode capable of stimulating a cranial nerve;
b) an external stimulator comprising a power source, circuitry to emit electrical signals, at least two predetermined programs to control said electrical signals, and a primary coil;
c) said primary coil of said external stimulator and said secondary coil of said implantable lead-receiver being capable of forming an electrical connection by inductive coupling, whereby said external stimulator is capable of controlling the stimulation of said cranial nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method to provide therapy for at least one of depression, migraine and neuropsychiatric disorders, comprising;
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a) providing an implantable lead-receiver comprising a secondary coil and at least one electrode to stimulate a cranial nerve;
b) providing an external stimulator comprising circuitry to emit electrical signals, at least two programs to control said electrical signals, an external coil and a power supply;
c) activating one of said at least two 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 at least two predetermined programs. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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.
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22. The method of claim 15, further comprising manually disengaging said at least two predetermined programs.
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23. A method for treating symptoms of depression, migraine or neuropsychiatric disorders comprising:
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a) selecting a predetermined program to control the output of an external stimulator;
b) activating said external stimulator to emit electrical signals in accordance with said predetermined program; and
c) inductively coupling said external stimulator with an implantable lead-receiver to stimulate a cranial nerve.
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24. A method for treating symptoms of depression, migraine or neuropsychiatric disorders comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification