Cervical wagal stimulation induced weight loss
First Claim
1. A method of treating obesity in a patient comprising chronic cervical vagus nerve stimulation (cVNS) with an electrical signal applied directly or indirectly to the vagus nerve in the neck of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for treating obesity using chronic cervical vagal nerve stimulation (cVNS) of the left vagus trunk are disclosed. Four men and ten women, average age 46 years (SD±10) were treated with output current typically 0.75 mA, pulse frequency 30 Hz and width 250 or 500 μs, and duty cycle of 30 s power per five minutes. Mean intake weight was 91 kg (SD±27, range 46 to 137 kg) with body mass index (BMI) 43 kg/m2 (SD±5, range 18 to 49 kg/mn2). After 6-12 months, obese patients had marked weight loss while normal weights were maintained. Decrease in BMI was consistently proportional to initial BMI. Average weight loss at one year was 7 kg (SD±3, range −6 to +24) with mean drop in BMI of 2 kg/m2 (SD±3, range −2 to +8)k. All patients denied any major dieting or exercise.
135 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A method of treating obesity in a patient comprising chronic cervical vagus nerve stimulation (cVNS) with an electrical signal applied directly or indirectly to the vagus nerve in the neck of the patient.
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11. The method of claim 10, wherein said electrical signal comprises an output current of about 0.75 mA, a stimulation frequency of about 30 Hz, a pulse width of either about 250 microseconds or about 500 microseconds (μ
- s), and a duty cycle intervals with power on for about 30 s and power off for the remainder of each 5 minute period of treatment.
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15. A method of treating obesity in a patient, said method comprising:
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implanting subcutaneously within the patient a device comprising an electrical signal generator, and at least one electrical lead having at least one proximal electrical connector and one distal nerve electrode;
operably connecting a proximal electrical connector of the electrical lead to the signal generator, operably coupling a distal nerve electrode of the electrical lead to the trunk of the left vagus nerve in the neck of the patient, and activating the signal generator to chronically stimulate the vagus nerve with an electrical signal for a period of at least six months, wherein group consisting of current amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, and a duty cycle of alternating intervals with power on and power off, said device further comprises at least two predetermined programs for controlling at least one parameter of said electrical signal according to a programmed regimen that cannot be altered while said device is implanted in the patient; and
said signal generator is activated by an externally activated control system that selectively activates each of said at least two predetermined programs;
whereby said apparatus provides vagus nerve stimulation which is controllable by said externally activated control system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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20. Apparatus for treating obesity in a patient, said apparatus comprising:
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a device suitable for implanting subcutaneously in the patient and at least one implantable electrical lead, said device comprising an electrical signal generator, said electrical lead having at least one proximal connector for operably connecting said electrical lead to said signal generator and at least one distal nerve electrode for operably coupling said electrical lead to a trunk of the vagus nerve in the neck of the patient;
said signal generator comprising a power source suitable to chronically stimulate said trunk of the vagus nerve with an electrical signal while implanted for a period of at least one year, said electrical signal having at least one variable parameter selected from the group consisting of current amplitude, pulse width, pulse frequency, and a duty cycle of alternating intervals with power on and power off, said device further comprising at least two predetermined programs for controlling at least one parameter of said electrical signal according to a programmed regimen that cannot be altered while said device is implanted in the patient;
said signal generator being activated by an externally activated control system that selectively activates each of said at least two predetermined programs;
controllable by said externally activated control system. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein at least one of said at least two predetermined programs to control parameters of said electrical signal produces an electrical signal that has an output current amplitude of about 0.75 mA, a stimulation frequency of about 30 Hz, a pulse width of either about 250 microseconds or about 500 microseconds (μ
- s), and a duty cycle of intervals with power on for about 30 s and power off for the remainder of each 5 minute period of treatment.
Specification