Devices and methods for controlling tremor
First Claim
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1. A wearable device for treating tremor in a patient, the device comprising:
- a control unit;
a first peripheral nerve effector, comprising at least one transcutaneous stimulation electrode configured to be positioned on a skin surface of an extremity to modulate an afferent nerve pathway; and
at least one sensor configured to measure movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to characterize one or more features of the tremor, the one or more features of the tremor selected from the group consisting of tremor frequency, tremor period, and tremor magnitude;
wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to;
measure the movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to generate motion data;
determine one or more of a tremor frequency, period and magnitude based on an analysis of the motion data;
set one or more parameters of a first electrical stimulus based on one or more of the tremor frequency, period or magnitude;
deliver the first electrical stimulus to a first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector to reduce tremor in the patient'"'"'s extremity;
set the timing of a second electrical stimulus such that the second electrical stimulus is offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by a calculated fraction of the tremor period, wherein the calculated fraction is selected from the group consisting of one half of the tremor period, one quarter of the tremor period, and three fourths of the tremor period, anddeliver the second electrical stimulus offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by the calculated fraction of the tremor period.
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Abstract
A peripheral nerve stimulator can be used to stimulate a peripheral nerve to treat essential tremor, Parkinson tremor, and other forms of tremor. The peripheral nerve stimulator can be either a noninvasive surface stimulator or an implanted stimulator. Stimulation can be electrical, mechanical, or chemical. Stimulation can be delivered using either an open loop system or a closed loop system with feedback.
465 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A wearable device for treating tremor in a patient, the device comprising:
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a control unit; a first peripheral nerve effector, comprising at least one transcutaneous stimulation electrode configured to be positioned on a skin surface of an extremity to modulate an afferent nerve pathway; and at least one sensor configured to measure movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to characterize one or more features of the tremor, the one or more features of the tremor selected from the group consisting of tremor frequency, tremor period, and tremor magnitude; wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to; measure the movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to generate motion data; determine one or more of a tremor frequency, period and magnitude based on an analysis of the motion data; set one or more parameters of a first electrical stimulus based on one or more of the tremor frequency, period or magnitude; deliver the first electrical stimulus to a first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector to reduce tremor in the patient'"'"'s extremity; set the timing of a second electrical stimulus such that the second electrical stimulus is offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by a calculated fraction of the tremor period, wherein the calculated fraction is selected from the group consisting of one half of the tremor period, one quarter of the tremor period, and three fourths of the tremor period, and deliver the second electrical stimulus offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by the calculated fraction of the tremor period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A wearable device for treating tremor in a patient, the device comprising:
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a control unit; a first peripheral nerve effector, comprising at least one transcutaneous stimulation electrode configured to be positioned on a skin surface of an extremity to modulate an afferent nerve pathway; and at least one sensor configured to measure movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to characterize at least one of a tremor frequency or tremor period; wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to; measure the movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to generate motion data; determine one or more of the tremor frequency or tremor period based on an analysis of the motion data; set one or more parameters of a first electrical stimulus based on one or more of the tremor frequency or period; deliver the first electrical stimulus to a first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector to reduce tremor in the patient'"'"'s extremity; and set the timing of a second electrical stimulus such that the second electrical stimulus is offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by a calculated fraction of the tremor period, wherein the calculated fraction is selected from the group consisting of one half of the tremor period, one quarter of the tremor period, and three fourths of the tremor period, and deliver the second electrical stimulus offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by the calculated fraction of the tremor period. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A wearable device for treating tremor in a patient, the device comprising:
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a control unit; a first peripheral nerve effector, comprising at least one transcutaneous stimulation electrode configured to be positioned on a skin surface of an extremity to modulate an afferent nerve pathway; and at least one sensor configured to measure movement of the patient'"'"'s extremity to characterize at least one of a tremor frequency or tremor period; wherein the control unit comprises a processor and a memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the device to; set one or more parameters of a first electrical stimulus based on one or more of the tremor frequency or period; deliver the first electrical stimulus to a first afferent nerve through the first peripheral nerve effector to reduce tremor in the patient'"'"'s extremity; set the timing of a second electrical stimulus such that the second electrical stimulus is offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by a calculated fraction of the tremor period, wherein the calculated fraction is selected from the group consisting of one half of the tremor period, one quarter of the tremor period, and three fourths of the tremor period, and deliver the second electrical stimulus offset in time from the first electrical stimulus by the calculated fraction of the tremor period. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification