Implantable neurostimulator-implemented method utilizing multi-modal stimulation parameters
First Claim
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1. A medical device for vagus nerve stimulation, comprising:
- an electrode assembly comprising a first pair of electrodes structured to be implanted on or near a vagus nerve and a second pair of electrodes structured to be implanted on or near the vagus nerve, wherein the first pair of electrodes is configured to be implanted closer to a brain of a patient than the second pair of electrodes, and the second pair of electrodes is configured to be implanted closer to a heart of the patient than the first pair of electrodes;
a neurostimulator coupled to the electrode assembly, said neurostimulator adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient; and
a control system coupled to the neurostimulator, said control system being programmed to cause the neurostimulator to deliver, in a predetermined pattern, a first mode of stimulation by the first pair of electrodes and a second mode of stimulation by the second pair of electrodes, wherein the first mode of stimulation is configured to generate an afferent response in the vagus nerve comprising propagation of action potentials to the brain and the second mode of stimulation is configured to generate an efferent response in the vagus nerve comprising propagation of action potentials to the heart;
wherein at least one of the first mode of stimulation or the second mode of stimulation comprises a stimulation frequency inclusively between 5 and 10 Hz; and
wherein the predetermined pattern comprises delivery of the first mode of stimulation during a first time and delivery of the second mode of stimulation during a second time, wherein delivery of the first mode of stimulation is suspended during the second time and delivery of the second mode of stimulation is suspended during the first time.
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Abstract
Multi-modal stimulation therapy may be utilized in which two or more stimulation therapies having different stimulation parameters may be delivered to a single patient. This can preferentially stimulate different nerve fiber types and drive different functional responses in the target organs. The stimulation parameters that may vary between the different stimulation therapies include, for example, pulse frequency, pulse width, pulse amplitude, and duty cycle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical device for vagus nerve stimulation, comprising:
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an electrode assembly comprising a first pair of electrodes structured to be implanted on or near a vagus nerve and a second pair of electrodes structured to be implanted on or near the vagus nerve, wherein the first pair of electrodes is configured to be implanted closer to a brain of a patient than the second pair of electrodes, and the second pair of electrodes is configured to be implanted closer to a heart of the patient than the first pair of electrodes; a neurostimulator coupled to the electrode assembly, said neurostimulator adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to a patient; and a control system coupled to the neurostimulator, said control system being programmed to cause the neurostimulator to deliver, in a predetermined pattern, a first mode of stimulation by the first pair of electrodes and a second mode of stimulation by the second pair of electrodes, wherein the first mode of stimulation is configured to generate an afferent response in the vagus nerve comprising propagation of action potentials to the brain and the second mode of stimulation is configured to generate an efferent response in the vagus nerve comprising propagation of action potentials to the heart; wherein at least one of the first mode of stimulation or the second mode of stimulation comprises a stimulation frequency inclusively between 5 and 10 Hz; and wherein the predetermined pattern comprises delivery of the first mode of stimulation during a first time and delivery of the second mode of stimulation during a second time, wherein delivery of the first mode of stimulation is suspended during the second time and delivery of the second mode of stimulation is suspended during the first time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a medical device for vagus nerve stimulation comprising a control system, a neurostimulator, and an electrode assembly, said electrode assembly comprising a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes, wherein the first pair of electrodes is configured to be implanted closer to a brain of a patient than the second pair of electrodes, and the second pair of electrodes is configured to be implanted closer to a heart of the patient than the first pair of electrodes, and said neurostimulator being coupled to the control system and the electrode assembly and being adapted to deliver electrical stimulation to the patient, the method comprising:
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operating the control system to activate the neurostimulator to deliver, in a predetermined pattern, a first mode of stimulation and a second mode of stimulation, wherein the first mode of stimulation is configured to generate an afferent response in a vagus nerve comprising propagation of action potentials to the brain and the second mode of stimulation is configured to generate an efferent response in the vagus nerve comprising propagation of action potentials to the heart; and delivering the first mode of stimulation by the first pair of electrodes and the second mode of stimulation by the second pair of electrodes in the predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern comprising delivery of the first mode of stimulation during a first time and delivery of the second mode of stimulation during a second time, wherein delivery of the first mode of stimulation is suspended during the second time and delivery of the second mode of stimulation is suspended during the first time; wherein at least one of the first mode of stimulation or the second mode of stimulation comprises a stimulation frequency inclusively between 5 and 10 Hz. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification