Dynamic nerve stimulation employing frequency modulation
AssigneeAdvanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc.
InventorJohn D. Dobak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are apparatus and methods for electrically modulating a nerve in a mammal. An electrical signal that includes a signal intensity pattern and a signal frequency pattern is delivered to a nerve. The combination of the signal intensity pattern and the signal frequency pattern is effective to result in weight loss, fat loss, and/or lean-mass gain, in a mammal. In some embodiments the nerve is modulated in response to a physiological parameter. In some embodiments, the physiological parameter is measured by a sensor.
Claims54
An implantable medical device that outputs a configured electrical signal effective to modulate a nerve in a mammal;
- wherein the electrical signal comprises:
- a stimulation intensity pattern that varies at least one of a current amplitude and a pulse width in the signal;
- and
- a stimulation frequency pattern that varies frequency in the signal;
- wherein the combination of the stimulation intensity pattern and the stimulation frequency pattern in the electrical signal, as applied to a nerve in the mammal, is effective to result in at least one of a loss of fat mass and a gain in lean mass of the mammal.
A method of electrically modulating a nerve in a mammal, comprising:
- configuring an electrical signal to comprise:
- a stimulation intensity pattern that varies at least one of a current amplitude and a pulse width in the signal;
- and
- a stimulation frequency pattern that varies frequency in the signal;
- and
- applying the electrical signal to a nerve in the mammal;
- wherein the combination of the stimulation intensity pattern and the stimulation frequency pattern in the electrical signal, as applied to a nerve in the mammal, is effective to result in at least one of a loss of fat mass and a gain in lean mass of the mammal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.