초록 ▼

The present invention uses electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy with minimized or no effect on the heart. Treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator, one or more implantable electrodes for electrically stimulating a predetermined stimulation site of the vagus

The present invention uses electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy with minimized or no effect on the heart. Treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator, one or more implantable electrodes for electrically stimulating a predetermined stimulation site of the vagus nerve, and a sensor for sensing characteristics of the heart such as heart rate. The heart rate information from the sensor can be used to determine whether the vagus nerve stimulation is adversely affecting the heart. Once threshold parameters are met, the vagus nerve stimulation may be stopped or adjusted. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may include a modified pacemaker to maintain the heart in desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation. In yet another embodiment, the invention may be simply a modified pacemaker having circuitry that determines whether a vagus nerve is being stimulated. In the event that the vagus nerve is being stimulated, the modified pacemaker may control the heart to maintain it within desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation.

대표청구항 ▼

The present invention uses electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy with minimized or no effect on the heart. Treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator, one or more implantable electrodes for electrically stimulating a predetermined stimulation site of the vagus

The present invention uses electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve to treat epilepsy with minimized or no effect on the heart. Treatment is carried out by an implantable signal generator, one or more implantable electrodes for electrically stimulating a predetermined stimulation site of the vagus nerve, and a sensor for sensing characteristics of the heart such as heart rate. The heart rate information from the sensor can be used to determine whether the vagus nerve stimulation is adversely affecting the heart. Once threshold parameters are met, the vagus nerve stimulation may be stopped or adjusted. In an alternative embodiment, the invention may include a modified pacemaker to maintain the heart in desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation. In yet another embodiment, the invention may be simply a modified pacemaker having circuitry that determines whether a vagus nerve is being stimulated. In the event that the vagus nerve is being stimulated, the modified pacemaker may control the heart to maintain it within desired conditions during the vagus nerve stimulation. sociated with the maximum tolerable threshold level. 7. The method of claim 3 further including applying a stimulus through a first set of electrodes having a magnitude defined by a selected magnitude number, applying a stimulus through a second set of electrodes having a magnitude defined by the same selected magnitude number, comparing the result of the stimulus applied through the first set of electrodes with the result of the stimulus applied through the second set of electrodes in a comparison test, and selecting stimulus parameters for programming into the implantable neural stimulator as a function of the comparison test. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein estimating and recording perception points for unmeasured sets of electrodes comprises: determining electrode sets for which perception points have not been measured; estimating perception points for the unmeasured sets of electrodes by determining the perception points for the unmeasured sets of electrodes as a function of the perception points of the measured sets of electrodes; and recording the estimated perception points. 9. The method of claim 8 further including calculating the perception points comprises extrapolating the perception points for the unmeasured sets of electrodes from the perception points from the measured sets of electrodes. 10. An implantable neural stimulator comprising: (a) pulse generation circuitry housed within a sealed case, said pulse generation circuitry being adapted to generate electrical stimuli in accordance with programmed stimulus parameters; (b) an implantable electrode array having a multiplicity of electrode contacts, wherein each of the multiplicity of electrode contacts is selectively connected to the pulse generation circuitry, and wherein the electrode contacts are grouped in selected electrode sets through which the electrical stimuli generated by the pulse generation circuitry is directed, each electrode set including a plurality of the electrode contacts, wherein one of the electrode contacts comprises the sealed case wherein the pulse generation circuitry is housed; (c) a known threshold level for at least a plurality of the multiplicity of electrode contacts, where said known threshold levels are expressed in units of current or voltage; and (d) an equalizer circuit that equalizes the threshold levels to unit-less magnitude levels. 11. The neural stimulation system of claim 10 wherein the equalizer circuit further estimates threshold levels for electrode contacts not initially known. 12. The neural stimulation system of claim 11 further wherein the neural stimulator automatically adjusts the magnitude of the stimulus applied through a selected electrode set to a value determined from the unit-less magnitude levels for the selected electrode set. 13. A system for determining an optimal set of stimulus parameters to be programmed into implantable pulse generation circuitry, the implantable pulse generation circuitry being housed within a sealed case, the pulse generation circuitry being adapted to generate electrical stimuli in accordance with programmed stimulus parameters; and further wherein an electrode array having a plurality of electrode contacts is selectively connected to the pulse generation circuitry; said system comprising: at least one measured perception threshold for a selected set of the plurality of electrode contacts, where said at least one perception threshold is measured in units of current or voltage; an equalizer that equalizes the at least one measured perception threshold for the selected set of electrode contacts to a unit-less magnitude level, and that estimates perception thresholds and corresponding magnitude levels for sets of electrode contacts where perception thresholds have not been measured; and means for automatically adjusting the magnitude of the electrical stimuli applied by an implantable neural stimulator through a selected set of electrode contacts as a