Stimulator for auricular branch of vagus nerve
First Claim
1. A device, comprising:
- a lead with a neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed past a conch of an outer ear into an external auditory canal to target an auricular nerve branch for neural stimulation, wherein the auricular nerve branch innervates surfaces of the outer ear and skin over a parotid gland and mastoid process near the outer ear, and wherein the neural stimulation electrode is configured to be appropriately placed within the external auditory canal effectively proximate to the outer ear near the auricular nerve branch to deliver stimulation from the external auditory canal out toward the auricular nerve branch;
a neural stimulation circuit connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation electrode appropriately placed within the external auditory canal out toward the auricular nerve branch, the neural stimulation circuit configured to deliver the neural stimulation signal with stimulation parameters effective to elicit depolarization of the auricular nerve branch from the appropriately placed neural stimulation electrode; and
a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to control depolarization of the auricular nerve branch, the controller configured to provide a vagal stimulation therapy using controlled depolarization of the auricular nerve branch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods to stimulate the auricular branch of the vagus nerve are provided. Various device embodiments comprise a lead, a neural stimulation circuit, and a controller. The lead has a neural stimulation electrode. The neural stimulation circuit is connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal adapted to stimulate the auricular nerve branch using the neural stimulation electrode. The controller is connected to the neural stimulation circuit and is adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to provide a vagal stimulation therapy. In various embodiments, the electrode is adapted to be placed in an external auditory canal. In various embodiments, the electrode includes a transcutaneous neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed behind an ear.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A device, comprising:
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a lead with a neural stimulation electrode adapted to be placed past a conch of an outer ear into an external auditory canal to target an auricular nerve branch for neural stimulation, wherein the auricular nerve branch innervates surfaces of the outer ear and skin over a parotid gland and mastoid process near the outer ear, and wherein the neural stimulation electrode is configured to be appropriately placed within the external auditory canal effectively proximate to the outer ear near the auricular nerve branch to deliver stimulation from the external auditory canal out toward the auricular nerve branch; a neural stimulation circuit connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation electrode appropriately placed within the external auditory canal out toward the auricular nerve branch, the neural stimulation circuit configured to deliver the neural stimulation signal with stimulation parameters effective to elicit depolarization of the auricular nerve branch from the appropriately placed neural stimulation electrode; and a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to control depolarization of the auricular nerve branch, the controller configured to provide a vagal stimulation therapy using controlled depolarization of the auricular nerve branch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device, comprising:
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a lead with a transcutaneous neural stimulation electrode to be placed behind an outer ear to target an auricular nerve branch with transcutaneous stimulation, wherein the auricular nerve branch innervates skin over a mastoid process behind the outer ear; a neural stimulation circuit connected to the lead to deliver a neural stimulation signal adapted to stimulate the auricular nerve branch using the neural stimulation electrode; a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to control delivery of the neural stimulation signal from the neural stimulation circuit to depolarize the auricular nerve branch to provide a vagal stimulation therapy; and a feedback circuit connected to the controller to provide the controller with a feedback signal indicative of a physiologic signal, the controller being adapted to respond to the feedback signal to adjust the neural stimulation signal delivered from the neural stimulation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A device, comprising:
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at least one port to connect at least one lead, the at least one lead including at least one neural stimulation electrode and at least one physiology sensor; a neural stimulation circuit connected to the at least one port to selectively deliver a neural stimulation signal to the neural stimulation electrode to target an auricular nerve branch for neural stimulation, wherein the auricular nerve branch innervates surfaces of an outer ear and skin over a parotid gland and mastoid process near the outer ear, and wherein the neural stimulation electrode is configured to be appropriately placed proximate the auricular nerve branch to deliver stimulation toward the auricular nerve branch; a feedback circuit connected to the at least one port to receive a feedback signal from the at least one physiology sensor; and a controller connected to the neural stimulation circuit and adapted to deliver the neural stimulation signal to the neural stimulation electrode, the controller further being connected to the feedback circuit and adapted to adjust the neural stimulation signal in response to the feedback signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method to provide vagal stimulation, comprising:
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positioning a non-invasive neural stimulation electrode proximate to an auricular nerve branch of a vagus nerve to target the auricular nerve branch for neural stimulation, including positioning a bipolar electrode past a conch of an outer ear into an external auditory canal, wherein the auricular nerve branch innervates surfaces of the outer ear and skin over a parotid gland and mastoid process near the outer ear, and wherein positioning the bipolar electrode in the external auditory canal includes placing the bipolar electrode within the external auditory canal effectively proximate to the outer ear near the auricular nerve branch to deliver stimulation from the external auditory canal out toward the auricular nerve branch; and applying a neural stimulation signal to the electrode appropriately placed within the external auditory canal to transcutaneously stimulate the auricular nerve branch from the external auditory canal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification