Methods and devices for treating primary headache
First Claim
1. A method of treating a headache in a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of a neck of the patient;
generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and
transmitting the electrical impulses to a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the electrical impulses have a frequency from about 1,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz and are sufficient to at least partially relieve a pain associated with the headache, wherein the electrical impulses are sufficient to generate action potentials within fibers of the vagus nerve responsible for activating neural pathways causing a release of GABA within a brain of the patient to at least partially relieve the pain associated with the headache.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches), irrespective of whether those symptoms arise from an allergy that is co-morbid with the headache. The disclosed methods may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient'"'"'s vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of treating a headache in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of a neck of the patient; generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and transmitting the electrical impulses to a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the electrical impulses have a frequency from about 1,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz and are sufficient to at least partially relieve a pain associated with the headache, wherein the electrical impulses are sufficient to generate action potentials within fibers of the vagus nerve responsible for activating neural pathways causing a release of GABA within a brain of the patient to at least partially relieve the pain associated with the headache. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of treating a headache in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of a neck of the patient; generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and transmitting the electrical impulses to a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the electrical impulses have a frequency from about 1,000 Hz to about 10,000 Hz and are sufficient to at least partially relieve a pain associated with the headache, wherein the electrical impulses are sufficient to generate action potentials within fibers of the vagus nerve responsible for activating neural pathways causing a release of inhibitory neurotransmitters within a brain of the patient to reduce a level of glutamate in the brain and to at least partially relieve the pain associated with the headache. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification