Non-invasive treatment of a medical condition by vagus nerve stimulation

• US 9,119,953 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce J., Errico, Joseph P., Raffle, John T., Mendez, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Porter, Jr., Allen
• Application Number:
  US13/208,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20110319958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 600/13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

Devices, systems and instructing methods for treating medical conditions in patients include a handheld non-invasive nerve stimulation device. The device includes a container filled with electrically conductive fluid and one or more energy transmitters surrounded by the conductive fluid. The container comprises a contact surface configured for contacting the outer skin surface of a neck of a patient for delivering electrical impulses from the energy transmitters through the conductive fluid and the patient'"'"'s neck to the vagus nerve. The electrical impulses are sufficient to treat the medical condition of the patient.

Claims

1. A device for treatment of a medical condition in a patient comprising:

a power source;

an electrical impulse generator coupled to the power source;

a container coupled to the electrical impulse generator and comprising an interior filled with an electrically conductive fluid and one or more energy transmitters within the interior and surrounded by the electrically conductive fluid, the container further comprising a contact surface for contacting a target region of an outer skin surface of a neck of a patient; and

wherein the power source is configured to supply energy to the energy transmitters such that the energy transmitters apply one or more electrical impulses to a vagus nerve within the patient'"'"'s neck suitable for modulation of the vagus nerve sufficient to treat the medical condition.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy transmitters comprise one or more magnetic coils and wherein the source of power is configured to supply a pulse of electric charge to the coils such that said coils produce a pulse of magnetic energy that induces one or more electrical impulses at the vagus nerve of the patient sufficient to modulate the vagus nerve.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the coil comprises a toroidal winding around a core material having a permeability equal to or greater than 10% of the permeability of Supermendur.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a deformable material.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a ferrofluid or a magnetorheological fluid.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulses have a frequency of 15 Hz to 50 Hz.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulses have a frequency of 25 Hz.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulses have a pulsed on-time of between 50 to 500 microseconds.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulses have a pulsed on-time of 200-400 microseconds.