Trans-esophageal vagus nerve stimulation
First Claim
1. A method of providing electrical signal therapy to a vagus nerve of a patient comprising:
- using an ambulatory medical device to apply an electrical signal trans-esophageally to a vagus nerve of the patient from inside the abdominal portion of an esophagus;
the ambulatory medical device comprises at least one electrode; and
the operation of using the ambulatory medical device to apply an electrical signal trans-esophageally to the vagus nerve of the patient comprises applying said electrical signal to at least one vagus nerve of the patient through the wall of the esophagus to treat a medical condition of the patient, wherein said at least one electrode penetrates the wall of the esophagus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods of non-surgically providing vagus nerve therapy trans-esophageally to treat a variety of medical conditions are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an implantable medical device comprises a support member having an outer surface. The support member is adapted to engage the inner wall of an esophagus. The IMD also comprises at least one electrode disposed on the outer surface of the support member. The at least one electrode is capable of applying a trans-esophageal electrical signal to the vagus nerve through the wall of the esophagus from the inner lumen thereof. The implantable medical device further comprises a signal generator coupled to the support member and to the at least one electrode. The signal generator causes the at least one electrode to apply an electrical signal to the vagus nerve to treat a medical condition.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing electrical signal therapy to a vagus nerve of a patient comprising:
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using an ambulatory medical device to apply an electrical signal trans-esophageally to a vagus nerve of the patient from inside the abdominal portion of an esophagus; the ambulatory medical device comprises at least one electrode; and the operation of using the ambulatory medical device to apply an electrical signal trans-esophageally to the vagus nerve of the patient comprises applying said electrical signal to at least one vagus nerve of the patient through the wall of the esophagus to treat a medical condition of the patient, wherein said at least one electrode penetrates the wall of the esophagus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification