US 12,708,769 B2Granted

Extracardiac autonomic nerve stimulation

AssigneesJose Carlos Pachon-Mateos, Enrique Indalécio Pachon-Mateos, Carlos Thiene Cunha Pachon

InventorsJose Carlos Pachon-Mateos, Enrique Indalécio Pachon-Mateos, Carlos Thiene Cunha Pachon

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Abstract

The ExtraCardiac Nerve Stimulator and the ExtraCardiac Nerve Stimulation (ECANS) are, respectively, the apparatus and method to get remote nerve stimulation for medical applications. The system makes possible the stimulation without direct contact with the nerve based on special electrical wave. The remote nerve stimulation is extremely important for investigational and therapeutic proposals. The possibility of having this resource without surgical dissection, nerve exposure and tissue lesion with time-consuming process, is remarkable. This procedure relies on a settable stimulator with special features that releases a pulse wave with high frequency, very short pulse width, great amplitude, and precise current and time limitation connected to a special catheter, placed inside a vase or viscera. Frequency, pulse width, amplitude and time of application are operator adjustable to be effective against large patient variations, different anatomy, and areas of application. Special features prevent the application of the stimulus in the heart.

Claims11

Dependent claims

An extracardiac autonomic nerve stimulator for stimulating at least one nerve in a patient, the extracardiac autonomic nerve stimulator comprising:

a non-implantable neurostimulator configured to be positioned external to the patient;
a catheter electrode operationally coupled to said neurostimulator, wherein said catheter electrode is configured to be positioned within a vein, artery, or viscera of the patient in measurable but non-contact proximity with respect to the at least one nerve, said neurostimulator configured to output a stimulation pulse wave to the catheter electrode;
and
a Cardiac Electrical Potential Detection Unit (CEPDU) operatively coupled to said neurostimulator and said catheter electrode, said CEPDU configured to:
(i) detect a cardiac potential at said catheter electrode and inhibit release of said stimulation pulse wave to said catheter electrode upon detection of said cardiac potential at said catheter electrode;
and
(ii) before releasing said stimulation pulse wave, perform cardiac pacing with an amplitude adjusted by an operator, wherein said CEPDU suspends the release of said stimulation pulse wave upon detection of a cardiac capture;
wherein:
said CEPDU only releases said stimulation pulse wave to said catheter electrode in the absence of detection of any cardiac electrical activity;
in response to receipt of the stimulation pulse wave from said neurostimulator, said catheter electrode is configured to stimulate neural activation of the at least one nerve through tissues of the patient while not being in contact with the at least one nerve;
and
said neurostimulator is configured to adjust said stimulation pulse wave to have a frequency that is adjustable within a frequency range from and including 10 Hz to and including 100 Hz, to have a pulse width that is adjustable within a pulse width range from and including 10 microseconds to and including 50 microseconds, and to have an amplitude that is adjustable up to and including 80 V.

9 more elements

A method of stimulating at least one nerve in a patient using an extracardiac autonomic nerve stimulator, the extracardiac autonomic nerve stimulator comprising a non-implantable neurostimulator configured to be positioned external to the patient, and a catheter electrode operationally coupled to said neurostimulator, the method comprising:

positioning said catheter electrode within a vein, artery, or viscera of the patient in measurable but non-contact proximity with respect to the at least one nerve;
outputting, using said neurostimulator, a stimulation pulse wave to said catheter electrode;
in response to receipt of said pulse wave from said neurostimulator, stimulating, using said catheter electrode, neural activation of the at least one nerve through tissues of the patient while not being in contact with the at least one nerve;
detecting, using a Cardiac Electrical Potential Detection Unit (CEPDU) operatively coupled to said neurostimulator and said catheter electrode, a cardiac potential at said catheter electrode and inhibit release of said stimulation pulse wave to said catheter electrode upon detection of said cardiac potential at said catheter electrode;
and
before releasing said stimulation pulse wave, performing cardiac pacing with an amplitude adjusted by an operator, wherein said CEPDU suspends the release of said stimulation pulse wave upon detection of a cardiac capture;
wherein:
said CEPDU only releases said stimulation pulse wave to said catheter electrode in the absence of detection of any cardiac electrical activity;
and
said neurostimulator adjusts said pulse wave by adjusting a frequency of said pulse wave so that said frequency is adjustable within a frequency range from and including 10 Hz to and including 100 Hz, by adjusting a pulse width of said pulse wave so that said pulse width is adjustable within a pulse width range from and including 10 microseconds to and including 50 microseconds, and by adjusting an amplitude of said pulse wave so that said amplitude is adjustable up to and including 80 V.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/948,298Filed 9 Apr 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Apr 2017
Published: US 2019/0091475 A128 Mar 2019
Granted: 18 Aug 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A61N 1/36053
Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system: adapted for vagal stimulation
A61N 1/0551
For implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode: spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
A61N 1/056
For implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode: transvascular endocardial electrode systems
A61N 1/36057
Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system: adapted for stimulating afferent nerves