Non-invasive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
First Claim
1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient comprising:
- applying energy transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of a patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient; and
modulating the enerqy such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit inflammation and increase an anti-inflammatory competence of cytokines in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for the non-invasive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases through delivery of energy to target nervous tissue, particularly the vagus nerve. In certain embodiments, the devices include a magnetic stimulator having coils with toroidal windings, which are in contact with an electrically conducting medium that is adapted to conform to the contour of a target body surface of a patient. The coils induce an electric current and/or an electric field within the patient, thereby stimulating nerve fibers within the patient. The stimulation brings about reduction of neuroinflammation in patients suffering from conditions comprising Alzheimer'"'"'s Disease, Parkinson'"'"'s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction and postoperative delirium.
116 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient comprising:
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applying energy transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of a patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient; and modulating the enerqy such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit inflammation and increase an anti-inflammatory competence of cytokines in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - 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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21. An apparatus for applying energy transcutaneously to a target region within a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, comprising:
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an enclosure; a power source housed within the enclosure and configured to generate an energy field that is located entirely exterior to an outer skin surface of the patient, the energy field being sufficient to transcutaneously pass through the outer skin surface; and wherein the power source is configured to generate an electrical impulse at or near the target region sufficient to modulate activity of a selected nerve at the target region to inhibit inflammation and enhance an anti-inflammatory competence of a cytokine in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient comprising:
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applying energy transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of a patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient; and modulating the enerqy such that the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit inflammation and increase an activity of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An apparatus for applying energy transcutaneously to a target region within a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, comprising:
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an enclosure; a power source housed within the enclosure and configured to generate an energy field that is located entirely exterior to an outer skin surface of the patient, the energy field being sufficient to transcutaneously pass through the outer skin surface; and wherein the power source is configured to generate an electrical impulse at or near the target site sufficient to modulate activity of a selected nerve at the target region to inhibit inflammation and enhance an anti-inflammatory activity of a neurotrophic factor in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification