Nerve stimulator for use with a software application

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating symptoms of a user, such as anxiety, depression and/or epileptic seizures, by electrical non-invasive stimulation of a nerve, such as the vagus nerve. A stimulator has a contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient. The stimulator is configured to wirelessly receive a signal from the software application that includes an electrical stimulation signal comprising at least one electrical impulse sufficient to modulate a nerve within a patient and to ameliorate one or more symptoms in the patient. The stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through the contact surface and the outer skin surface of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating symptoms of a patient, the system comprising:
 a stimulator having a contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and configured for wireless coupling to a software application and configured to receive from the software application a wireless signal that includes an electrical stimulation signal comprising at least one electrical impulse sufficient to modulate a nerve within a patient and to ameliorate one or more symptoms in the patient; and   wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through the contact surface and the outer skin surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising the software application, wherein the software application is downloadable onto a mobile device and the stimulator is configured for wireless coupling to the mobile device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface comprises an electrode, the system further comprising a pulse generator configured for coupling to an energy source, wherein the pulse generator generates the electrical impulse. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the software application transmits parameters of the electrical impulse to the pulse generator. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the software program includes data and the pulse generator is configured to receive the data from the software program, the data comprising a therapy regimen for treating the medical condition in the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the software program is configured to modulate a property of the electrical impulse. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses having a frequency of about 10 to about 100 Hz. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises pulses having a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 kHz. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through an outer skin surface of a neck to a vagus nerve of a patient. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through an outer skin surface of an ear to a vagus nerve of a patient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more symptoms comprise a seizure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more symptoms comprise anxiety or depression. 
     
     
         13 . A system for treating symptoms of a patient, the system comprising:
 a stimulator having a contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient;   a software application configured for wireless coupling to the stimulator, wherein the stimulator is configured to receive from the software application a wireless signal that includes an electrical stimulation signal comprising at least one electrical impulse sufficient to modulate a nerve within a patient and to ameliorate one or more symptoms in the patient; and   wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through the contact surface and the outer skin surface.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the contact surface comprises an electrode, the system further comprising a pulse generator configured for coupling to an energy source, wherein the pulse generator generates the electrical impulse. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the software application transmits parameters of the electrical impulse to the pulse generator. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the software program includes data and the pulse generator is configured to receive the data from the software program, the data comprising a therapy regimen for treating the medical condition in the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the software program is configured to modulate a property of the electrical impulse. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses having a frequency of about 10 to about 100 Hz. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises pulses having a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 kHz. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through an outer skin surface of a neck to a vagus nerve of a patient. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit the electrical impulse through an outer skin surface of an ear to a vagus nerve of a patient. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more symptoms comprise a seizure. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more symptoms comprise anxiety or depression.