US 7,660,636 B2 · Electrical stimulation device and method for the treatment of dysphagia

Abstract

An electrical stimulation device and method for the treatment of dysphagia is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical stimulation device includes one or more channels of electrodes each of which includes a first electrode positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a target region of a patient and a second electrode positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a posterior neck region or a posterior thoracic region of the patient. A series of electrical pulses are then applied to the patient through the one or more channels of electrodes in accordance with a procedure for treating dysphagia. The series of electrical pulses may comprise: a plurality of cycles of a biphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a biphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic sequential pulse train pattern; a plurality of cycles of a triphasic overlapping pulse train pattern; a functional pulse train pattern; a low-frequency pulse train pattern; or a frequency-sequenced pulse burst train pattern. Various exemplary embodiments of the invention are disclosed.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A method for treating dysphagia in a patient by electrical stimulation, said method comprising:

positioning a first channel comprising two electrodes, wherein a first electrode of said first channel is positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a first target region of said patient and a second electrode of said first channel is positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a posterior neck region or a posterior thoracic region of said patient using transcutaneous or percutaneous electrodes on said tissue of said posterior neck region or said posterior thoracic region;
positioning a second channel comprising two electrodes, wherein a first electrode of said second channel is positioned in electrical contact with tissue of a second target region of said patient and a second electrode of said second channel is positioned in electrical contact with tissue of said posterior neck region or said posterior thoracic region of said patient using transcutaneous or percutaneous electrodes on said tissue of said posterior neck region or said posterior thoracic region;
applying a series of electrical pulses to said patient through said first and second channels in accordance with a procedure for treating dysphagia.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrical stimulation device and method for the treatment of dysphagia

Life of this patent

Electrical stimulation device and method for the treatment of dysphagia

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51