Methods and systems for modulating the vagus nerve (10th cranial nerve) to provide therapy for neurological, and neuropsychiatric disorders
First Claim
1. A method of providing complex electrical pulses to a vagus nerve(s) its branches or parts thereof of a patient for treating or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of depression, anxiety disorders, autism, epilepsy and involuntary movement disorders, neurogenic/psychogenic pain, obsessive compulsive disorders, compulsive eating disorders, bulimia, obesity, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, or migraines, comprising the steps of:
- providing a microprocessor based implantable pulse generator (IPG) capable of providing complex electrical pulses, and comprising at least one predetermined/pre-packaged program(s), electrical circuitry, and rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery;
providing an implanted lead(s) in electrical contact with said implanted pulse generator, wherein said implanted lead(s) comprise at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s);
choosing a predetermined/pre-packaged program from at least one predetermined/pre-packaged program(s); and
activating said predetermined/pre-packaged program with a programmer using bi-directional telemetry, wherein said bidirectional telemetry utilizes magnetic inductive coupling or wireless telemetry within two meter range whereby, complex electrical pulses are provided to said vagus nerve(s), its branches or parts thereof according to said at least one predetermined/pre-packaged program to provide therapy or alleviate symptoms for at least one of said disorders.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and systems for neuromodulating vagus nerve(s) to provide therapy for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders comprises implantable and external components. The pulsed electrical stimulation to vagus nerve(s) is used for disorders such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety disorders, neurogenic pain, compulsive eating disorders, obesity, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, and migraines. The pulsed electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s) may be provided using various forms of implanted pulse generators or various forms of implanted stimulus-receiver used with an external stimulator. The external components such as the programmer may communicate with the implanted pulse generator (IPG) utilizing magnetic inductive coupling or via wireless telemetry. Further, the external components such as the programmer or external stimulator may also comprise circuitry for networking with remote computers. The remote telemetry circuitry therefore allows for interrogation or programming of implanted device, from a remote location over a wide area network.
236 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing complex electrical pulses to a vagus nerve(s) its branches or parts thereof of a patient for treating or alleviating the symptoms for at least one of depression, anxiety disorders, autism, epilepsy and involuntary movement disorders, neurogenic/psychogenic pain, obsessive compulsive disorders, compulsive eating disorders, bulimia, obesity, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, or migraines, comprising the steps of:
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providing a microprocessor based implantable pulse generator (IPG) capable of providing complex electrical pulses, and comprising at least one predetermined/pre-packaged program(s), electrical circuitry, and rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery;
providing an implanted lead(s) in electrical contact with said implanted pulse generator, wherein said implanted lead(s) comprise at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s);
choosing a predetermined/pre-packaged program from at least one predetermined/pre-packaged program(s); and
activating said predetermined/pre-packaged program with a programmer using bi-directional telemetry, wherein said bidirectional telemetry utilizes magnetic inductive coupling or wireless telemetry within two meter range whereby, complex electrical pulses are provided to said vagus nerve(s), its branches or parts thereof according to said at least one predetermined/pre-packaged program to provide therapy or alleviate symptoms for at least one of said disorders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of providing neuromodulation with predetermined complex electrical pulses to a vagus nerve(s) to provide therapy for at least one of epilepsy, depression, anxiety disorders, neurogenic pain, compulsive eating disorders, obesity, dementia including Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, and migraine, comprising the steps of:
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providing a programmable implantable pulse generator capable of providing complex electrical pulses comprising microprocessor, electrical circuitry, memory, and power source;
providing an implantable lead in electrical contact with said implantable pulse generator, and at least one electrode adapted to be in contact with said vagus nerve(s);
providing an external programmer comprising circuitry that programs said implantable pulse generator using magnetic inductive coupling or wireless telemetry for bi-directional data exchange, wherein said external programmer being capable of network connection for remote communication using a wide area network;
programming said implanted pulse generator with said external programmer to deliver predetermined electrical pulses for providing therapy for at least of said disorders; and
remotely communicating with said external programmer for data exchange over a wide area network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of treating, controlling or alleviating the symptoms of neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a type of pulse generator system suitable for a patient for providing complex electrical pulses to a vagus nerve;
implanting said selected pulse generator system; and
applying a predetermined/pre-packaged program of complex electrical pulses to a vagus nerve(s) its branches or part thereof for altering regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the patient to alleviate the symptoms of the neurological or neuropsychiatric disorder exhibited by the patient being treated. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification