Apparatus and method for treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders using programmerless implantable pulse generator system

• US 6,760,626 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neuro and Cardiac Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Birinder R. Boveja
• Inventors: Boveja, Birinder R.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/942,322
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1-3, 607/30-32, 607/59, 607/60, 607/45, 607/46, 607/48, 607/58
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

System and method for neuromodulation therapy of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders comprises an implantable lead and pulse generator system for providing the appropriate electrical stimulation to a cranial nerve such as the vagus nerve. The implantable pulse generator having prepackaged/predetermined programs stored in the memory of the pulse generator, and means for accessing these with an external magnet. The pulse generator adapted to selectively activate predetermined programs with the external magnet, thereby eliminating the need for an external programmer. The elimination of the external programmer resulting in significant cost reduction with essentially the same functionality.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing neuromodulation therapy for at least one of epilepsy, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, obesity, eating disorders, coma, neurogenic/psychogenic pain, depression, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders and diabetes, comprising:

an implantable pulse generator;

wherein said implantable pulse generator comprises microprocessor based circuitry and memory;

at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs of said neuromodulation therapy stored in said memory to control pulses emitted by said implantable pulse generator, wherein said predetermined/pre-packaged programs define neuromodulation parameters of pulse amplitude, pulse-width, pulse frequency, on-time and off-time;

an implantable lead in electrical contact with said implantable pulse generator and having at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with a cranial nerve;

an external magnet; and

means for selectively choosing between said at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs with said external magnet to provide a selected predetermined/pre-packaged program and for activating said selected program for said neuromodulation therapy.

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

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implantable pulse generator is operable without an external computer based programmer for programming.

4. A method of providing neuromodulation therapy for one of epilepsy, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, obesity, coma, migraines, severe depression, diabetes, neurogenic/psychogenic pain, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, compulsive eating disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorders, using an implantable pulse generator system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an implantable pulse generator;

wherein said implantable pulse generator comprises microprocessor based circuitry and memory;

providing at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs of said neuromodulation therapy stored in said memory to control pulses emitted by said implantable pulse generator, wherein said predetermined/pre-packaged programs define neuromodulation parameters of pulse amplitude, pulse-width, pulse frequency, on-time and off-time;

providing an implantable lead in electrical contact with said implantable pulse generator and having at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with a cranial nerve;

providing an external magnet; and

selectively choosing between of said at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs with said external magnet to provide a selected predetermined/pre-packaged program and activating said selected program for said neuromodulation therapy.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said cranial nerves is the left vagus nerve.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said implantable pulse generator does not require a computer based external programmer for programming.

7. An apparatus for providing electric pulses to a nerve tissue to provide stimulation therapy for at least one of epilepsy, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, obesity, eating disorders, coma, neurogenic/psychogenic pain, depression, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, and diabetes, comprising:

an implantable pulse generator comprising microprocessor based circuitry and memory, wherein said implantable pulse generator is designed to operate without a computer based external programmer;

at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs of said stimulation therapy stored in said memory to control said electrical pulses emitted by said implantable pulse generator wherein said predetermined/pre-packaged programs define neuromodulation parameters of pulse amplitude, pulse-width, pulse frequency, on-time and off-time;

an implantable lead in electrical contact with said implantable pulse generator and having at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said nerve tissue; and

external magnet means for selectively choosing between said at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs with an external magnet to provide a selected predetermined/pre-packaged program and for activating said selected program for said neuromodulation therapy.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said nerve tissue is left vagus nerve.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electrical pulse compromises at least one variable component selected from a group consisting of current amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, on-time, and off time.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs control the variable components of said pulses.

11. A method for providing electric pulses to a nerve tissue to provide stimulation therapy for at least one of epilepsy, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, obesity, eating disorders, coma, neurogenic/psychogenic pain, depression, sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders and diabetes, comprising the steps of:

providing an implantable pulse generator comprising microprocessor based circuitry and memory wherein said implantable pulse generator designed to operate without a computer based external programmer;

providing at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs said stimulation therapy are stored in said memory to control said electrical pulses emitted by said implantable pulse generator wherein said predetermined/pre-packaged programs define neuromodulation parameter pulse amplitude, pulse-width, pulse frequency, on-time and off-time;

providing an implantable lead in electrical contact with said implantable pulse generator and having at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said nerve tissue, and

providing a means for selectively choosing between said at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs with an external magnet to provide a selected predetermined/pre-packaged program and for activating said selected program for said neuromodulation therapy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said nerve tissue is left vagus nerve.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said electrical pulse compromises at least one variable component selected from a group consisting of current amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, on-time, and off time.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least two predetermined/pre-packaged programs control the variable components of said pulses.