Microburst electrical stimulation of cranial nerves for the treatment of medical conditions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of treating a brain disorder in a patient having a brain and a vagus nerve, comprising:
- applying to the vagus nerve of the patient a first pulsed electrical signal configured to modulate the brain of the patient to treat the brain disorder, the first pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts, wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is patterned and comprises;
from 2 to 6 pulses per microburst;
at least one interpulse interval, each interpulse interval of the at least one interpulse interval occurring between adjacent pulses of the microburst, each interpulse interval ranging from about 2 to about 10 milliseconds; and
a microburst duration of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds;
wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is separated from an adjacent microburst by an interburst period of at least 100 milliseconds;
measuring a first enhanced Vagal Evoked Potential (eVEP) in a target area of the patient'"'"'s brain;
changing at least one of the number of pulses per microburst, the interpulse interval between adjacent pulses of the microburst, the microburst duration, and the interburst period to provide a second pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts;
applying said second pulsed electrical signal to the vagus nerve of the patient;
measuring a second eVEP in the target area of the patient'"'"'s brain;
comparing said first eVEP and said second eVEP;
selecting one of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal for continued application to the vagus nerve of the patient based upon said comparing; and
applying said selected electrical signal to said vagus nerve of the patient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for treating a medical condition in a patient using an implantable medical device by applying an electrical signal characterized by having a number of pulses per microburst, an interpulse interval, a microburst duration, and an interburst period to a portion of a cranial nerve of said patient, wherein at least one of the number of pulses per microburst, the interpulse interval, the microburst duration, or the interburst period is selected to enhance cranial nerve evoked potentials.
620 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A method of treating a brain disorder in a patient having a brain and a vagus nerve, comprising:
-
applying to the vagus nerve of the patient a first pulsed electrical signal configured to modulate the brain of the patient to treat the brain disorder, the first pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts, wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is patterned and comprises; from 2 to 6 pulses per microburst; at least one interpulse interval, each interpulse interval of the at least one interpulse interval occurring between adjacent pulses of the microburst, each interpulse interval ranging from about 2 to about 10 milliseconds; and a microburst duration of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds; wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is separated from an adjacent microburst by an interburst period of at least 100 milliseconds; measuring a first enhanced Vagal Evoked Potential (eVEP) in a target area of the patient'"'"'s brain; changing at least one of the number of pulses per microburst, the interpulse interval between adjacent pulses of the microburst, the microburst duration, and the interburst period to provide a second pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts; applying said second pulsed electrical signal to the vagus nerve of the patient; measuring a second eVEP in the target area of the patient'"'"'s brain; comparing said first eVEP and said second eVEP; selecting one of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal for continued application to the vagus nerve of the patient based upon said comparing; and applying said selected electrical signal to said vagus nerve of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of treating a brain disorder in a patient having a vagus nerve and a brain, comprising:
-
applying to the vagus nerve of the patient a pulsed electrical signal configured to modulate the brain of the patient to treat the brain disorder, the pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts, wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is patterned and comprises; from 2 to 6 pulses per microburst; at least one interpulse interval, each interpulse interval of the at least one interpulse interval occurring between adjacent pulses of the microburst, each interpulse interval ranging from about 2 to about 10 milliseconds; and a microburst duration of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds, wherein at least one of the number of pulses per microburst, the interpulse interval, the microburst duration, and the interburst period is selected to enhance vagus nerve evoked potentials, and wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is separated from an adjacent microburst by an interburst period comprising a time interval greater than that at which the enhanced vagus nerve evoked potentials significantly diminish or disappear. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification