Stimulating cranial nerve to treat pulmonary disorder
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a patient having a pulmonary disorder, comprising:
- coupling a first set of electrodes to a first nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a left vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus;
coupling a second set of electrodes to a second nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a right vagus nerve and the pulmonary plexus;
activating the first set of electrodes to deliver energy from the first set of electrodes to a first target location on the first nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at the first target location to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from traveling between the brain and a first portion of the lungs through said first nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the first portion of the lungs; and
activating the second set of electrodes to deliver energy from the second set of electrodes to a second target location on the second nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at the second target location to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from travelling between the brain and a second portion of the lungs through said second nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the second portion of the lungs.
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Abstract
A method for stimulating a portion of a vagus nerve of a patient to treat a pulmonary disorder is provided. At least one electrode is coupled to at least one portion of a left vagus nerve and/or a right vagus nerve of the patient. An electrical signal is applied to the portion of the vagus nerve using the electrode to treat the pulmonary disorder. The electrical signal may perform a blocking of an intrinsic neural activity on said at least one portion of the left vagus nerve and said right vagus nerve.
196 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of treating a patient having a pulmonary disorder, comprising:
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coupling a first set of electrodes to a first nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a left vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus; coupling a second set of electrodes to a second nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a right vagus nerve and the pulmonary plexus; activating the first set of electrodes to deliver energy from the first set of electrodes to a first target location on the first nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at the first target location to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from traveling between the brain and a first portion of the lungs through said first nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the first portion of the lungs; and activating the second set of electrodes to deliver energy from the second set of electrodes to a second target location on the second nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at the second target location to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from travelling between the brain and a second portion of the lungs through said second nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the second portion of the lungs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. A method of treating a patient having a pulmonary disorder, comprising:
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coupling a first set of electrodes to a first nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a left vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus; coupling a second set of electrodes to a second nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a right vagus nerve and the -a pulmonary plexus providing at least one electrical signal generator; coupling the electrical signal generator to the first and second sets of electrodes; detecting a symptom of the pulmonary disorder, wherein the symptom comprises at least one breathing parameter selected from respiration rate, pulse oxygen level, an oxygen saturation factor in the blood, and a carbon dioxide factor in the blood; generating electrical signals with the electrical signal generator in response to detecting the symptom; applying the electrical signals to the first set of electrodes to deliver energy from the first set of electrodes to the first nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at a first target location on the first nerve to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from travelling between the brain and a first portion of the lungs through said first nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the first portion of the lungs; and applying the electrical signals to the second set of electrodes to deliver energy from the second set of electrodes to the second nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at a second target location on the second nerve to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from travelling between the brain and a second portion of the lungs through said second nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the second portion of the lungs. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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16. A method of treating a patient having a pulmonary disorder, comprising:
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coupling a first set of electrodes to a first nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a left vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus; coupling a second set of electrodes to a second nerve selected from a bronchial branch of a right vagus nerve and the pulmonary plexus; detecting a symptom of the pulmonary disorder, wherein the symptom comprises a breathing parameter of the patient; and in response to detecting the symptom of the pulmonary disorder, activating the first set of electrodes to deliver energy from the first set of electrodes to the first nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at a first target location on the first nerve to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from travelling between the brain and a first portion of the lungs through said first nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the first portion of the lungs, and activating the second set of electrodes to deliver energy from the second set of electrodes to the second nerve to provide blocking parasympathetic nerve signals in combination with non-blocking sympathetic stimulation signals at a second target location on the second nerve to prevent the parasympathetic nerve signals from travelling between the brain and a second portion of the lungs through said second nerve sufficiently to reduce bronchial obstruction in the second portion of the lungs. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification