Treatment of movement disorders by near-diaphragmatic nerve stimulation

Abstract

A method for treating patients with movement disorders 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. A device for performing the method includes a government approved implantable neurostimulator which 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 by application of the therapeutic electrical stimulation signal to a selected nerve. Automatic detection or patient sensing of a symptom of the disorder may be utilized for activating the device.

1 - 21 . (canceled)  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus for treating patients suffering from movement disorder, comprising a pulse generator sanctioned by government authority for implantation in a patient together with electrode means to treat said disorder by stimulation of 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 alleviating symptoms of the movement disorder in the patient.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein said pulse generator is programmable to enable physician programming of the electrical and timing parameters of said sequence of electrical impulses.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , 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.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , 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.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , 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.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , including a sense signal analysis circuit associated with the pulse generator for analyzing a signal produced by a sensor in response to movement of the patient to assess whether the patient's movement is random, uncoordinated and involuntary characteristic of the movement disorder being treated, and, if it is, for activating the pulse generator to stimulate the selected cranial nerve in the vicinity of said location.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , 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 . Apparatus for treating patients suffering from movement disorder, 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 said movement 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 movement disorder in the patient.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said pulse generator is adapted to be programmed by a physician to provide electrical and timing parameters of said impulses.  
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said electrode means has a length sufficient to enable said nerve electrode to be implanted on said nerve at said location.