Method and system for providing therapy for bulimia/eating disorders by providing electrical pulses to vagus nerve(s)

A method of treating or alleviating the symptoms of eating disorders by stimulating and/or blocking the vagus nerve(s) or branches thereof with pre-determined electric pulses, comprising the steps of:

• a) selecting a patient with an eating disorder;
• b) providing an external stimulus generator with a wireless communication system that is operable to provide pulse stimulation programming as well as power to an implanted stimulator;
• c) implanting an implantable stimulator in said patient and electrically connecting at least one implantable stimulator electrode to a vagus nerve or branch thereof, said implantable stimulator comprising a pulse generator module and a stimulus receiver module, said pulse generator module including a microprocessor and pre-programmed instructions for controlling electrical output to the implantable stimulator electrode, said stimulus receiver module including a coil that receives both said pulse stimulation programming and said power from said external stimulus generator whereby said pulse stimulation programming is supplied to said pulse generator module and power is supplied to said implantable stimulator;
• a battery connected by a switch to the implantable stimulator for supplying power thereto, a sensor to detect the presence of external power from said external stimulus generator so as to cause said switch to switch from connection to said battery to connection to said stimulus receiver module power supply while adequate external power is sensed and maintained;
• d) selectively applying pulses to the patient to treat said eating disorder using said implantable stimulator generator alone or operated by said external pulse generator signal.