Spatially selective vagus nerve stimulation
US8509919B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 24, 2011 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/0556
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
By targeting on selected branches or fascicles of a vagus nerve using electrode placement and/or selection, one or more target branches of the vagus nerve are substantially activated by electrical stimulation pulses delivered to a branch without substantially activating one or more non-target branches. In one embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through an electrode placed on a thoracic vagus nerve that is separated from a recurrent laryngeal nerve, such that the vagus nerve is stimulated without causing laryngeal muscle contractions. In another embodiment, vagus nerve stimulation is delivered through a multi-contact electrode with one or more contacts selected for delivering the electrical stimulation pulses to stimulate the vagus nerve without causing laryngeal muscle contractions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.