Nerve stimulator system
First Claim
1. A method for treating a condition or a symptom of a patient, the method comprising:
- receiving an input signal wirelessly from a controller at a stimulation device positioned at a target site adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient, wherein the input signal contains electrical energy, wherein the stimulation device comprises an antenna, a storage device coupled to the antenna, and an electrode, wherein the antenna receives the input signal, wherein the storage device stores the electrical energy;
generating an electrical impulse within the stimulation device with the electrical energy from the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude;
varying a duration of the electrical impulse via the stimulation device; and
applying the electrical impulse to the nerve via the electrode, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate the nerve and treat the condition or the symptom.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods for applying electrical impulse(s) to one or more selected nerves are described. An electrical stimulator is introduced through a to a target location within, adjacent to, or in close proximity with, the carotid sheath. The stimulator has an antenna that allows it to be powered solely by far-field or approximately plane wave electromagnetic radiation, having frequencies in the range of 0.3 to 10 GHz. Electrical impulses are applied through the stimulator to a vagus nerve to stimulate, block or otherwise modulate activity of the nerve and treat the patient'"'"'s condition. The stimulator uses an adjustable number of fixed voltage (or fixed current) pulses with fixed duration to elicit desired changes in nerve response, the timing of which are controlled by an external power transmitter and controller.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for treating a condition or a symptom of a patient, the method comprising:
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receiving an input signal wirelessly from a controller at a stimulation device positioned at a target site adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient, wherein the input signal contains electrical energy, wherein the stimulation device comprises an antenna, a storage device coupled to the antenna, and an electrode, wherein the antenna receives the input signal, wherein the storage device stores the electrical energy; generating an electrical impulse within the stimulation device with the electrical energy from the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude; varying a duration of the electrical impulse via the stimulation device; and applying the electrical impulse to the nerve via the electrode, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate the nerve and treat the condition or the symptom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A stimulation device for treating a condition of a patient, the stimulation device comprising:
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an enclosure configured for positioning adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient; an antenna configured to receive an input signal from a power source located remotely from the enclosure, wherein the input signal comprises electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the antenna; a storage device coupled to the antenna, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the storage device; a pulse generator coupled to the storage device, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate an electrical impulse based on the electrical energy stored in the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude and a variable duration, wherein the enclosure comprises the pulse generator, wherein the electrical impulse comprises one or more pulses, wherein each of the one or more pulses comprises a fixed amplitude and a fixed duration, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a duration equal to a combined duration of the fixed duration of each of the one or more pulses, wherein the fixed amplitude of each of the one or more pulses is from about 1 V to about 20 V; and one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure and coupled to the pulse generator, wherein the one or more electrodes is configured to conduct the electrical impulse to the nerve sufficient to modulate the nerve. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A stimulation device for treating a condition of a patient, the stimulation device comprising:
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an enclosure configured for positioning adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient; an antenna configured to receive an input signal from a power source located remotely from the enclosure, wherein the input signal comprises electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the antenna; a storage device coupled to the antenna, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the storage device; a pulse generator coupled to the storage device, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate an electrical impulse based on the electrical energy stored in the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude and a variable duration, wherein the enclosure comprises the pulse generator; and one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure and coupled to the pulse generator, wherein the one or more electrodes is configured to conduct the electrical impulse to the nerve sufficient to modulate the nerve, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed voltage. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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29. A stimulation device for treating a condition of a patient, the stimulation device comprising:
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an enclosure configured for positioning adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient; an antenna configured to receive an input signal from a power source located remotely from the enclosure, wherein the input signal comprises electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the antenna; a storage device coupled to the antenna, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the storage device; a pulse generator coupled to the storage device, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate an electrical impulse based on the electrical energy stored in the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude and a variable duration, wherein the enclosure comprises the pulse generator; and one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure and coupled to the pulse generator, wherein the one or more electrodes is configured to conduct the electrical impulse to the nerve sufficient to modulate the nerve, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed current.
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31. A stimulation device for treating a condition of a patient, the stimulation device comprising:
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an enclosure configured for positioning adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient; an antenna configured to receive an input signal from a power source located remotely from the enclosure, wherein the input signal comprises electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the antenna; a storage device coupled to the antenna, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the storage device; a pulse generator coupled to the storage device, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate an electrical impulse based on the electrical energy stored in the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude and a variable duration, wherein the enclosure comprises the pulse generator; and one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure and coupled to the pulse generator, wherein the one or more electrodes is configured to conduct the electrical impulse to the nerve sufficient to modulate the nerve, wherein the electrical impulse comprises one or more pulses, wherein each of the one or more pulses comprises a fixed amplitude and a fixed duration, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a duration equal to a combined duration of the fixed duration of each of the one or more pulses, wherein the fixed duration of each of the one or more pulses is from about 100 uS to about 400 uS. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A stimulation device for treating a condition of a patient, the stimulation device comprising:
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an enclosure configured for positioning adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient; an antenna configured to receive an input signal from a power source located remotely from the enclosure, wherein the input signal comprises electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the antenna; a storage device coupled to the antenna, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the storage device; a pulse generator coupled to the storage device, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate an electrical impulse based on the electrical energy stored in the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude and a variable duration, wherein the enclosure comprises the pulse generator; and one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure and coupled to the pulse generator, wherein the one or more electrodes is configured to conduct the electrical impulse to the nerve sufficient to modulate the nerve, wherein the electrical impulse comprises one or more pulses, wherein each of the one or more pulses comprises a fixed amplitude and a fixed duration, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a duration equal to a combined duration of the fixed duration of each of the one or more pulses, wherein the duration of the electrical impulse is from about 200 uS to about 1000 uS.
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34. A stimulation device for treating a condition of a patient, the stimulation device comprising:
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an enclosure configured for positioning adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient; an antenna configured to receive an input signal from a power source located remotely from the enclosure, wherein the input signal comprises electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the antenna; a storage device coupled to the antenna, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the enclosure comprises the storage device; a pulse generator coupled to the storage device, wherein the pulse generator is configured to generate an electrical impulse based on the electrical energy stored in the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a fixed amplitude and a variable duration, wherein the enclosure comprises the pulse generator; and one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure and coupled to the pulse generator, wherein the one or more electrodes is configured to conduct the electrical impulse to the nerve sufficient to modulate the nerve, wherein the electrical impulse comprises one or more pulses, wherein each of the one or more pulses comprises a fixed amplitude and a fixed duration, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a duration equal to a combined duration of the fixed duration of each of the one or more pulses, wherein the duration of the electrical impulse occurs during a stimulation and rising phase of the nerve.
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35. A method for facilitating a treatment of at least one of a condition or a symptom of a patient, the method comprising:
sending an input signal wirelessly from a controller to a stimulation device positioned at a target site adjacent to or near a nerve within a neck of the patient, wherein the input signal contains electrical energy, wherein the stimulation device comprises an antenna, a storage device coupled to the antenna, and an electrode, wherein the antenna is configured to receive the input signal, wherein the storage device is configured to store the electrical energy, wherein the stimulation device is configured to generate an electrical impulse within the stimulation device with the electrical energy from the storage device, wherein the electrical impulse is configured to comprise a fixed amplitude, wherein the stimulation device is configured to vary a duration of the electrical impulse, wherein the electrode is configured to apply the electrical impulse to the nerve, wherein the electrical impulse is configured to be sufficient to modulate the nerve and treat at least one of the condition or the symptom.
Specification