Vagus nerve stimulation by electrical signals for controlling cerebellar tremor
First Claim
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1. A neurostimulator system for alleviating cerebellar tremor, comprising:
- a programmable electrical pulse generator; and
at least one electrode connected to the programmable electrical pulse generator and configured to apply electrical signals to a cranial nerve; and
whereinthe programmable electrical pulse generator is programmed to generate electrical signals with a combination of parameters that is effective in reducing cerebellar tremor, the combination of parameters comprising;
a signal frequency of 15 Hz or less,a current magnitude of about 1 mA or less,a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2;
1 to 1;
1.8;
signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes, anda pulse width within the range of 50 μ
s to 300 μ
s.
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Abstract
A neurostimulator system for alleviating cerebellar tremor associated with multiple sclerosis, for instance, comprises a programmable electrical pulse generator. The programmable electrical pulse generator is programmed to generate electrical signals with the following parameters: a current magnitude of about 1 mA or less, a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2:1 to 1:1.8, signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes, a signal frequency below 15 Hz, and a pulse width within the range of 50 μs to 300 μs. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A neurostimulator system for alleviating cerebellar tremor, comprising:
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a programmable electrical pulse generator; and at least one electrode connected to the programmable electrical pulse generator and configured to apply electrical signals to a cranial nerve; and
whereinthe programmable electrical pulse generator is programmed to generate electrical signals with a combination of parameters that is effective in reducing cerebellar tremor, the combination of parameters comprising; a signal frequency of 15 Hz or less, a current magnitude of about 1 mA or less, a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2;
1 to 1;
1.8;signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes, and a pulse width within the range of 50 μ
s to 300 μ
s. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for manufacturing a neurostimulator system intended for alleviating cerebellar tremor associated with multiple sclerosis, comprising:
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providing a programmable electrical pulse generator; programming the programmable electrical pulse generator to generate electrical signals effective to control cerebellar tremor when said signals are applied to a cranial nerve of a patient suffering from cerebellar tremor; and providing at least one electrode connected with the programmable electrical pulse generator for applying the electrical signals generated by the electrical pulse generator to a cranial nerve for controlling cerebellar tremor, wherein the programmable electrical pulse generator is programmed to generate electrical signals having a current magnitude of about 1 mA or less, a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2;
1 to 1;
1.8, signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes, a signal frequency below a frequency of 15 Hz, and a pulse width within the range of 50 μ
s to 300 μ
s. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of treating a patient suffering from cerebellar tremor, comprising:
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providing a neurostimulator system comprising a programmable electrical pulse generator comprising at least one electrode for applying electrical signals generated by the electrical pulse generator, wherein said pulse generator is programmed with signal parameters comprising a pulse width, a current magnitude, a pulse frequency, stimulation on-time and stimulation off-time effective to attenuate or control cerebellar tremor in the patient; placing said electrode in electrical communication with a cranial nerve of the patient; and applying said electrical signals to said cranial nerve by means of the at least one electrode, said application of said electrical signals being effective to attenuate or control the cerebellar tremor; wherein the following programmable parameters are used; current magnitude of about 1 mA or less; pulse width within the range of 50 μ
s to 300 μ
s;signal frequency below 15 Hz; signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes; and a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2;
1 to 1;
1.8. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A non-transitory computer program product, comprising:
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one or more non-transitory computer readable media having computer-executable instructions for controlling a programmable electrical pulse generator to generate electrical signals to be applied to a cranial nerve, the computer-executable instructions configured to cause the electrical signals to have attributes comprising; a current magnitude about 1 mA or less, a stimulation signal on-time to signal off-time ratio in the range of 2;
1 to 1;
1.8,signal on-times and off-times in the range of about 10 seconds to about 5 minutes, a signal frequency below 15 Hz, and a pulse width within the range of 50 μ
s to 300 μ
s. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification