METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED NERVE ABLATION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of treating a subject having unwanted or overactive nerve activity, comprising:
- (a) applying one or more of direct current and charge imbalanced time varying current to a target nerve; and
(b) controlling the amplitude and the duration of the current such that there is a net charge delivered to the target nerve at a sufficient current density to cause controlled ablation of the target nerve until unwanted or overactive nerve activity is reduced in one or both of the target nerve and a target body tissue innervated by the target nerve.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a system and method for treating a subject having unwanted or overactive nerve activity. The method involves applying one or more of direct current, charge imbalanced time varying current and pulsatile current to a target nerve; and controlling the amplitude and the duration of the current such that there is a net charge delivered to the target nerve at a sufficient charge density to cause controlled ablation to the target nerve until unwanted or overactive nerve activity is reduced in one or both of the target nerve and a target body tissue innervated by the target nerve.
311 Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A method of treating a subject having unwanted or overactive nerve activity, comprising:
-
(a) applying one or more of direct current and charge imbalanced time varying current to a target nerve; and (b) controlling the amplitude and the duration of the current such that there is a net charge delivered to the target nerve at a sufficient current density to cause controlled ablation of the target nerve until unwanted or overactive nerve activity is reduced in one or both of the target nerve and a target body tissue innervated by the target nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20, 22)
-
-
12. A method of treating a subject having unwanted or overactive nerve activity, comprising:
-
(a) implanting an implant under the subject'"'"'s skin, the implant including a passive electrical conductor having a pick-up portion and a delivery portion and being insulated between the pick-up portion and the delivery portion, the pick-up portion being configured to pick up at least a portion of a current flowing between a first surface electrode and a second surface electrode when positioned on the subject'"'"'s skin, and to transmit the portion of the current to a target nerve; (b) positioning the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode in spaced relationship on the subject'"'"'s skin to make direct electrical contact with the subject'"'"'s skin, with the first surface electrode positioned over the pick-up portion of the electrical conductor so the portion of the current is transmitted through the electrical conductor to the target nerve; and (c) applying one or more of direct current and charge imbalanced time varying current between the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode to cause the portion of the electrical current to flow through the implant to be delivered to the target nerve; and (d) controlling the amplitude and the duration of the current such that there is a net charge delivered to the target nerve at a sufficient current density to cause controlled ablation of the target nerve until unwanted or overactive nerve activity is reduced in one or both of the target nerve and a target body tissue innervated by the target nerve. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23)
-
-
24. A system for treating a subject, comprising:
-
an implant including an insulated electrical conductor having a delivery portion configured to deliver current to a target nerve; and a current source configured to supply current in the form of one or more of direct current and charge imbalanced time varying current to the implant, and being configured to control the amplitude and the duration of the current such that a net charge may be delivered to the target nerve at a sufficient current density to cause controlled ablation of the target nerve. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A system for treating a subject, comprising:
-
a first surface electrode and a second surface electrode configured to make electrical contact with the subject'"'"'s skin and to transmit current to bodily tissue below the skin; a stimulator electrically coupled to the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode, the stimulator being configured to supply current to the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode in the form of one or more of direct current and charge imbalanced time varying current, and the stimulator being configured with controls for the amplitude and the duration of the current such that a net charge may be delivered to a target nerve at a sufficient current density to cause controlled ablation of the target nerve; an implant including a passive electrical conductor having a pick-up portion and a delivery portion and being insulated between the pick-up portion and the delivery portion, the pick-up portion being configured so that, once implanted beneath the skin, the pick-up portion picks up at least a portion of a current flowing between the first surface electrode and the second surface electrode when positioned on the subject'"'"'s skin, and transmits the portion of the current to the target nerve. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
Specification