Method for improving functional recovery after stroke by electrical stimulation of a cranial nerve
First Claim
1. A method for improving functional recovery after stroke in a human or animal in need thereof, said method comprising:
- (a) applying to a first cranial nerve a first stimulating signal optimized so as to promote stroke recovery, wherein the stroke recovery is evidenced by improvement to one or more of factors diminished by stroke, wherein the factors are selected from the group consisting of motor strength, fine motor movements, sensory, balance, swallowing, thalamic pain, language, memory, and continence; and
(b) applying to one or more of the first cranial nerve and a second cranial nerve a second stimulating signal optimized so as to control a concomitant dysfunction, wherein the first and second cranial nerves are opposite vagus nerves and wherein the concomitant dysfunction is one or more of dysfunctions selected from the group consisting of post-stroke mood disorder, post-stroke epilepsy, coma, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmia.
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to some embodiments, a method for improving functional recovery after cerebro-vascular accidents, such as strokes, in humans and animals comprises stimulating a cranial nerve with electrical current. According to some embodiments, a method for improving functional recovery after stroke in a human or animal in need thereof comprises applying to the cranial nerve of the human or animal a stimulating electrical signal that causes neurophysiological, morphological, chemical, or neuronal connective alteration in the brain, where the alteration changes neural function in the brain so as to change functional recovery and functional dynamics in the human or animal. According to some embodiments, a method for improving functional recovery after stroke in a human or animal in need thereof comprises applying to a first cranial nerve a first stimulating electrical signal optimized so as to promote stroke recovery. The method may further comprise applying to one or more of the first cranial nerve and a second cranial nerve a second stimulating electrical signal optimized so as to control a concomitant dysfunction.
48 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for improving functional recovery after stroke in a human or animal in need thereof, said method comprising:
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(a) applying to a first cranial nerve a first stimulating signal optimized so as to promote stroke recovery, wherein the stroke recovery is evidenced by improvement to one or more of factors diminished by stroke, wherein the factors are selected from the group consisting of motor strength, fine motor movements, sensory, balance, swallowing, thalamic pain, language, memory, and continence; and (b) applying to one or more of the first cranial nerve and a second cranial nerve a second stimulating signal optimized so as to control a concomitant dysfunction, wherein the first and second cranial nerves are opposite vagus nerves and wherein the concomitant dysfunction is one or more of dysfunctions selected from the group consisting of post-stroke mood disorder, post-stroke epilepsy, coma, high blood pressure, and cardiac arrhythmia. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for improving functional recovery after stroke in a human or animal in need thereof, said method comprising:
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(a) applying to a first vagus nerve a first stimulating signal optimized so as to promote stroke recovery comprising neurophysiological, morphological, chemical, or neuronal connective alteration in the brain of the human or animal, wherein the alternation changes a neural function in the brain so as to change functional stroke recovery in the human or animal, wherein the stroke recovery is evidenced by improvement to one or more of factors diminished by stroke, wherein the factors are selected from the group consisting of motor strength, fine motor movements, and balance; and (b) applying to one or more of the first vagus nerve and a second vagus nerve a second stimulating signal optimized so as to control a concomitant dysfunction, wherein the first vagus nerve and the second vagus nerve are opposite vagus nerves, wherein the concomitant dysfunction comprises a disability introduced by stroke, wherein the concomitant dysfunction is post-stroke mood disorder; wherein the first and second stimulating signals are selected so as to affect different parts of the brain; and wherein the first and second stimulating signals synergistically cause the improving functional recovery; wherein one or more of the first and second stimulation signals are generated by an implanted stimulus generator. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification