Patent · US Active

Techniques for reducing pain associated with nerve stimulation

US8571651B2 · kind B2 · utility

74Cited by
191References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 7, 2011
Grant dateOct 29, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 7, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61N1/36114
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus is provided including an electrode device and a control unit. The electrode device is configured to be coupled to a site of a subject selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve, an epicardial fat pad, a pulmonary vein, a carotid artery, a carotid sinus, a coronary sinus, a vena cava vein, a right ventricle, a right atrium, and a jugular vein. The control unit is configured to drive the electrode device to apply to the site a current in at least first and second bursts, the first burst including a plurality of pulses, and the second burst including at least one pulse, and set (a) a pulse repetition interval (PRI) of the first burst to be on average at least 20 ms, (b) an interburst interval between initiation of the first burst and initiation of the second burst to be less than 10 seconds, (c) an interburst gap between a conclusion of the first burst and the initiation of the second burst to have a duration greater than the average PRI, and (d) a burst duration of the first burst to be less than a percentage of the interburst interval between, the percentage being less than 67%. Other embodiments are also described.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.