Vagal stimulation for atrial fibrillation therapy
First Claim
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1. A treatment method, comprising:
- applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and
repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject,wherein applying the current comprises;
applying a stimulating current and an inhibiting current;
configuring the stimulating current to induce action potentials in a first set and a second set of nerve fibers of the vagus nerve; and
configuring the inhibiting current to inhibit the induced action potentials traveling in the second set of nerve fibers, the nerve fibers in the second set having generally larger diameters than the nerve fibers in the first set.
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Abstract
Apparatus for treating a subject suffering from spontaneous atrial fibrillation includes an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a vagus nerve of the subject, and a control unit, adapted to drive the electrode device to apply an electrical current to the vagus nerve, and to configure the current to maintain the spontaneous AF for at least about 24 hours, so as to modify blood flow within the atria and reduce risk of thromboembolic events.
441 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein applying the current comprises; applying a stimulating current and an inhibiting current; configuring the stimulating current to induce action potentials in a first set and a second set of nerve fibers of the vagus nerve; and configuring the inhibiting current to inhibit the induced action potentials traveling in the second set of nerve fibers, the nerve fibers in the second set having generally larger diameters than the nerve fibers in the first set.
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2. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein applying the current comprises; applying a stimulating current and an inhibiting current; configuring the stimulating current to induce action potentials in the vagus nerve; and configuring the inhibiting current to inhibit action potentials induced by the stimulating current and traveling in the vagus nerve in an afferent direction toward a brain of the subject.
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3. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein applying the current comprises applying the current in respective bursts in each of a plurality of cardiac cycles of the subject, wherein the parameter includes a number of pulses in each of the bursts, and wherein repeatedly changing the parameter comprises repeatedly changing the number of pulses in each of the bursts.
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4. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein applying the current comprises applying the current in respective bursts in each of a plurality of cardiac cycles of the subject, wherein the parameter includes a pulse width of pulses in each of the bursts, and wherein repeatedly changing the parameter comprises repeatedly changing the pulse width of the pulses in each of the bursts.
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5. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein the parameter includes an on/off status of the current, and wherein repeatedly changing the parameter comprises repeatedly changing the on/off status of the current.
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6. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein repeatedly changing the parameter comprises; during a first period, configuring the current so as to induce action potentials in the vagus nerve; and during a second period, configuring the current so as to block action potentials in the vagus nerve.
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7. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein repeatedly changing the parameter comprises repeatedly changing the parameter at a rate of between about one change per heart beat of the subject and about one change per 30 seconds.
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8. A treatment method, comprising:
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applying an electrical current to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and repeatedly changing at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein repeatedly changing the parameter comprises repeatedly changing the parameter randomly. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. Treatment apparatus, comprising:
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an electrode device, adapted to be coupled to a vagus nerve of a subject suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF); and a control unit, adapted to; drive the electrode device to apply an electrical current to the vagus nerve, and repeatedly change at least one parameter of the current, so as to restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR) of the subject, wherein the control unit is adapted to repeatedly change the parameter randomly. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification