METHODS AND DEVICES FOR TREATING PRIMARY HEADACHE
First Claim
1. A method for treating a medical disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
- positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of a neck of the patient;
generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and
transmitting, via the device, the one or more electrical impulses to a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the one or more electrical impulses are above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating neural pathways to cause a release of a sufficient level of an inhibitory neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient to at least partially relieve a symptom associated with the medical disorder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches), irrespective of whether those symptoms arise from an allergy that is co-morbid with the headache. The disclosed methods may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient'"'"'s vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated.
29 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for treating a medical disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
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positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of a neck of the patient; generating one or more electrical impulses with the device; and transmitting, via the device, the one or more electrical impulses to a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the one or more electrical impulses are above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating neural pathways to cause a release of a sufficient level of an inhibitory neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient to at least partially relieve a symptom associated with the medical disorder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for treating a medical disorder in a patient, the device comprising:
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a housing comprising an electrically permeable contact surface configured for contacting an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient; and a source of energy configured to generate an electric field within the housing, wherein the electric field is sufficient to transmit an electric current through the electrically permeable contact surface and the outer skin surface of the patient to a vague nerve of the patient, wherein the electric current is above a threshold for generating an action potential within a fiber of the vagus nerve responsible for activating a neural pathway causing a release of an inhibitory neurotransmitter within a brain of the patient to at least partially relieve a symptom of the medical disorder. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification