Nerve stimulation as a treatment for pain
US6721603B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 25, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 25, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36071
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating patients suffering from severe, unrelenting pain. A therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied from a stimulus generator, when activated, to at least some of plural electrodes implanted in stimulating relation to at least two nerves among the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and the stimulus generator is activated to generate the therapeutic stimulation signal to alleviate the pain under treatment. Alternatively, the therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied to at least one electrode implanted in stimulating relation to at least one of the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and if the selected nerve is the vagus nerve, the signal is applied to a supra-diaphragmatic or sub-diaphragmatic site, either unilaterally or bilaterally to one or both branches, respectively, of the vagus nerve.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.