Vagal nerve stimulation
AssigneesCochlear Limited, New York University (NYU)
InventorsPeter GIBSON, Shawn ENTER, Paul M. CARTER, J. Thomas ROLAND, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Presented herein are techniques in which a specific branch of the vagal nerve that extends to the car, referred to as the auricular branch of the vagal nerve (ABVN), is stimulated via an implantable stimulator. Described herein are implantable stimulation assembly arrangements for implantation adjacent to the auricular branch of the vagal nerve, and use of the implantable stimulating assembly arrangements in order to electrically stimulate the auricular branch of the vagal nerve.
Claims27
A method, comprising:
- implanting at least one vagal nerve stimulation assembly within a recipient adjacent to soft tissue inclusive of at least one auricular branch of a vagal nerve of the recipient;
- and
- electrically stimulating the at least one auricular branch of the vagal nerve within the recipient via the at least one vagal nerve stimulation assembly.
(canceled)
(canceled)
An apparatus, comprising:
- at least one stimulation assembly configured to be implanted within a recipient adjacent to a distal surface of soft tissue inclusive of at least one auricular branch of a vagal nerve of the recipient, wherein the at least one stimulation assembly comprises one or more electrodes facing the distal surface of the soft tissue inclusive of at least one auricular branch of the vagal nerve;
- an implantable module comprising a stimulator unit;
- and
- a lead region electrically connecting the stimulator unit to the one or more electrodes.
27-38. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.