DEVICES AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE CAPACITIVE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION AND THEIR USE FOR VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION ON THE NECK OF A PATIENT

• US 20120029601A1
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce, Errico, Joseph, Raffle, John T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,914,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/008 for pain treatment or analgesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A non-invasive electrical stimulation device shapes an elongated electric field of effect that can be oriented parallel to a long nerve, such as a vagus nerve in a patient'"'"'s neck, producing a desired physiological response in the patient. The stimulator comprises a source of electrical power, at least one electrode and a continuous electrically conducting medium in which the electrode(s) are in contact. The stimulation device is configured to produce a peak pulse voltage that is sufficient to produce a physiologically effective electric field in the vicinity of a target nerve, but not to substantially stimulate other nerves and muscles that lie between the vicinity of the target nerve and patient'"'"'s skin. Current is passed through the electrodes in bursts of preferably five sinusoidal pulses, wherein each pulse within a burst has a duration of preferably 200 microseconds, and bursts repeat at preferably at 15-50 bursts per second.

Claims

1. An apparatus for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising:

a source of energy for generating an electric field;

one or more electrodes coupled to the source of energy;

an electrically conductive interface coupled to the electrodes and positionable against an outer skin surface of the patient

a conduction medium electrically coupling the electrodes with the interface; and

wherein the source of energy is configured to deliver one or more electrical impulses from the electrodes through the conductive medium, the interface and the outer skin surface to a nerve at a target region within the patient.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the target region is a nerve located at least 1-2 cm beyond the outer skin surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 where the target region is a nerve is located at least 2-5 cm beyond the outer skin surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive medium comprises a solution of electrolytes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a conductive gel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a housing having an outer enclosure enclosing the electrodes and the conduction medium, wherein at least a portion of the outer enclosure comprises one or more openings for containing the electrically conductive interface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the electrically conductive interface and the outer enclosure substantially contain the conduction medium therein.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive interface comprises stainless steel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electrical field comprising bursts of pulses with a frequency of about 5 to about 100 bursts per second.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive interface comprises two discs and the apparatus further comprising two corresponding electrodes, and wherein the electrodes are spaced from each disc by about 0.25 to 4 times the diameter of the corresponding disc.

10. The apparatus of 1 wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electrical field comprising bursts of between 1 and 20 pulses with each pulse about 50-1000 microseconds in duration.

12. A device for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising:

a handheld device comprising a enclosure with an interior and an electrically conductive interface configured for contact with an outer skin surface of a patient;

a source of energy housed within the interior of the enclosure;

one or more electrodes housed within the enclosure;

a conduction medium within the enclosure and electrically coupling the electrodes with the electrically conductive interface; and

wherein the source of energy is configured to apply an electrical impulse through the interface of the enclosure transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of the patient to a nerve at a target region below the outer skin surface.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate a nerve within the target region and insufficient to substantially modulate nerve(s) in the vicinity of the outer skin surface.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electrical field comprising bursts of pulses with a frequency of about 5 to about 100 bursts per second.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the electrically conductive interface comprises a pair of metal discs.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the pair of metal discs comprise stainless steel.

15. The device of 12 wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electrical field comprising bursts of between 1 and 20 pulses with each pulse about 50-1000 microseconds in duration.