Treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders by near-diaphragmatic nerve stimulation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating patients with neuropsychiatric disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location in the vicinity of the patient's diaphragm, either slightly above or slightly below the diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to generate the desired therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder. Patient activation of the device is permitted in the case of treating a neuropsychiatric disorder such as depression, where the patient is able to sense a symptom of a disorder.

1 - 22 . (canceled)  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus for treating patients suffering from a specified neuropsychiatric disorder, comprising a pulse generator sanctioned by government authority for implantation in a patient together with electrode means to stimulate a selected cranial nerve of the patient with a predetermined sequence of electrical impulses from said pulse generator applied to the selected cranial nerve at a location in a range from about two to about three inches above or below the patient's diaphragm, for ameliorating symptoms of the specified neuropsychiatric disorder in the patient.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said pulse generator is programmable to enable physician programming of the electrical and timing parameters of said sequence of electrical impulses.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the selected cranial nerve is the vagus nerve, and said electrode means comprises at least one nerve electrode for implantation on the patient's vagus nerve for direct stimulation thereof at said location.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said electrode means comprises a pair of nerve electrodes for implantation of a respective one of said pair on left and right branches of the patient's vagus nerve for direct bilateral stimulation thereof at said location.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said electrode means comprises at least one electrode for implantation internally to a portion of the patient's nervous system remote from the selected cranial nerve to indirectly stimulate the selected cranial nerve in the vicinity of said location.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , including means associated with the pulse generator for enabling patient activation of the pulse generator to stimulate the selected cranial nerve in the vicinity of said location.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said specified neuropsychiatric disorder is schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, or related disorder.  
   
   
       30 . Apparatus for treating patients suffering from a neuropsychiatric disorder from among schizophrenia, depression, borderline personality disorder, or related disorder, said apparatus comprising a pulse generator approved by a government agency of competent authority to be implanted with at least one interconnected nerve electrode in a patient to treat the neuropsychiatric disorder by applying a programmed sequence of electrical impulses generated by said pulse generator to a branch of the patient's vagus nerve via said electrode implanted on said nerve at a location in a range from about two to about three inches above or below the patient's diaphragm, for relieving symptoms of the neuropsychiatric disorder.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said pulse generator is adapted to be programmed by an attending physician to provide electrical and timing parameters of said impulses.  
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said nerve electrode is connected to an electrical lead of sufficient length to enable said at least one nerve electrode to be implanted on at least one of the left and right branches of said vagus nerve at said location.