Systems and methods for stimulation of vagus nerve
First Claim
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1. A system for stimulating a target region of a vagus nerve from a location within an internal jugular vein, the system comprising:
- a medical lead comprising a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end in a direction towards the distal end, and at least one electrode located on the lead body and operatively coupled to the conductor, the electrode configured to transvascularly deliver an electrical stimuli to the target region of the vagus nerve from a location within the internal jugular vein; and
an insulating element including an insulating sheath formed from a flexible sheet of electrically insulative material, wherein the insulating sheath is configured to be implanted within the internal jugular vein and disposed about the lead and to insulate nerve structures proximate the vagus nerve from stimulation, wherein the insulating element further comprises a stent-like fixation member configured to expand from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein in the expanded configuration, the stent-like fixation member is configured to secure the insulating sheath to an inner wail of the internal jugular vein, and wherein the insulating sheath includes at least one window configured to be located between the lead and the target region of the vagus nerve through. which the electrical stimuli can be delivered to the target region of the vagus nerve.
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Abstract
Described is a system for stimulating a target region of a vagus nerve from a location within an internal jugular vein. The system comprises a medical lead and an insulating element. The insulating element is formed from a flexible sheet of electrically insulative material, and is to be implanted within the internal jugular vein to insulate nerve structures proximate the vagus nerve from stimulation. The insulating sheath includes at least one window through which the electrical stimuli can be delivered to the target region of the vagus nerve.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for stimulating a target region of a vagus nerve from a location within an internal jugular vein, the system comprising:
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a medical lead comprising a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end in a direction towards the distal end, and at least one electrode located on the lead body and operatively coupled to the conductor, the electrode configured to transvascularly deliver an electrical stimuli to the target region of the vagus nerve from a location within the internal jugular vein; and an insulating element including an insulating sheath formed from a flexible sheet of electrically insulative material, wherein the insulating sheath is configured to be implanted within the internal jugular vein and disposed about the lead and to insulate nerve structures proximate the vagus nerve from stimulation, wherein the insulating element further comprises a stent-like fixation member configured to expand from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration, wherein in the expanded configuration, the stent-like fixation member is configured to secure the insulating sheath to an inner wail of the internal jugular vein, and wherein the insulating sheath includes at least one window configured to be located between the lead and the target region of the vagus nerve through. which the electrical stimuli can be delivered to the target region of the vagus nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for stimulating a target region of a vagus nerve from a location within an internal jugular vein in a carotid sheath, the system comprising:
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a medical lead comprising a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end in a direction towards the distal end, and at least one electrode located on the lead body and operatively coupled to the conductor, the electrode configured to transvascularly deliver an electrical stimuli to the target region of the vagus nerve from a location within the internal jugular vein; and an insulating element including an insulating sheath formed from a flexible sheet of electrically insulative material configured to assume a generally tubular shape to surround at least a portion of the carotid sheath when implanted, and configured. to surround the portion of the carotid sheath within which the lead electrode is positioned when implanted in order to insulate nerve structures proximate the vagus nerve from stimulation when the electrical stimuli is delivered by the lead electrode to the target region of the vagus nerve, wherein the insulating sheath comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion configured to surround the carotid sheath and the second portion configured to surround and contact an outer surface of the internal jugular vein in order to radially compress a localized region of the internal jugular vein. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method for stimulating a target region of a vagus nerve from a location within an internal jugular vein, the method comprising:
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deploying an insulating element at a location proximate the target region of the vagus nerve, wherein the insulating element is at least partially radiopaque, wherein the insulating element includes a first portion and a second portion, and wherein deploying the insulating element includes positioning the first portion about the carotid sheath at a location within which the target region of the vagus nerve is located, and positioning the second portion about an outer surface of the internal jugular vein within the carotid sheath; after deploying the insulating element, advancing a medical lead including at least one electrode within the internal jugular vein while visualizing the deployed insulating element under fluoroscopy to determine a desired implantation position of the medical lead; positioning the medical lead with the at least one electrode positioned within the internal jugular vein at a location such that the at least one electrode is encircled by the insulating element; and operatively coupling the medical lead to a pulse generator to supply an electrical stimuli to the vagus nerve via the at least one electrode, wherein the insulating element operates to electrically insulate nerves proximate the vagus nerve from exposure to the electrical stimuli. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification