Device and procedure to treat cardiac atrial arrhythmias

• US 7,011,638 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ortiz & Lopez PLLC
• Original Assignee: Medical Scientific Incorporated
• Inventors: Schuler, Eleanor L., Lee, Claude K.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US09/992,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 601/46, 601 56- 58, 601 67- 72, 601 73- 83, 601/135
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/03 especially adapted for animals
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/005 with feedback for the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/006 Power driven

Abstract

A non-invasive vagal stimulation device and method. The device comprises a body having a vibration member. The stimulation is created by the vibration member which has a vibratory rate that can be adjusted from being off to a preferred operating range. The non-invasive stimulation method consists of placing the non-invasive stimulation device in the vicinity of the carotid artery bifrication where arises a carotid sinus and body which contain afferent sensory nerves that travel to medulla oblongata of brain, and either applying pressure in place, or moving the device along the target arm. The method can be accomplished either with the vibration feature of the device turned on or off.

Claims

1. A method for non-invasively treating cardiac irregularities via stimulation in a target zone comprising afferent nerves of the carotid body and sinus on the right or left side of the human neck, comprising the steps of:

providing a device shaped to contact the neck in the vicinity of the target zone;

applying pressure in the vicinity of the target zone to cause nerve stimulation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device includes a vibration member, and said pressure can be applied with the vibration member of the device turned on.

3. The method according to claim 1, including a vibration member, and in which the step of applying pressure includes moving the vibration member along at least a portion of the target zone located centrally between an area starting just below the angle of the jaw below the ear to a region of the clavicular notch at the top of the sternum.

4. The method according to claim 1, including target zone stimulation using vibration when applying pressure.

5. A method for non-invasively treating atrial irregularities via nerve stimulation, comprising the steps of:

applying pressure in the vicinity of a target zone comprising afferent nerves of the carotid body and sinus with a device; and

maintaining pressure for a period of time sufficient to reduce the atrial arrhythmia.

6. The method according to claim 5, including target zone stimulation using vibration when applying pressure.