Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation to treat disorders
AssigneeElectroCore, Inc.
InventorsBruce Simon, Joseph P. Errico, John T. Raffle
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Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain.
Claims35
A method of treating a disorder in a patient, comprising:
- positioning a device adjacent to a skin surface of the patient;
- generating one or more electrical impulses with said device;
- and
- transmitting the electrical impulses to a vagus nerve in the patient, the electrical impulses having a frequency of between 1000 Hz and 10,000 Hz and a duty cycle between 1% and 10%.
A device for treating a disorder in a patient comprising:
- a housing having an electrically permeable or conducting contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of the patient;
- and
- an energy source within the housing configured to transmit electrical impulses through the outer skin surface of the patient to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electric impulses have a frequency of between 1000 Hz and 10,000 Hz and a duty cycle between 1% and 10%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.