Patent ID: 8620450
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A system for stimulating a select region of a patient's vagus nerve located within the patient's carotid sheath from a location adjacent the vagus nerve, the system comprising: a first neurostimulation lead adapted to be deployed at a location adjacent the select region of the vagus nerve within the carotid sheath, the first lead comprising a lead body extending from a proximal end adapted to be coupled to a pulse generator to a distal portion having a distal end, at least one conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end towards the distal end, and at least one electrode operatively coupled to the at least one conductor and located on the distal portion, the at least one electrode adapted to deliver an electrical pulse to the vagus nerve; a second neurostimulation lead adapted to be deployed at a stimulation site external to the carotid sheath, the second lead comprising a lead body extending from a proximal end adapted to be coupled to a pulse generator to a distal portion having a distal end, the distal portion configured to wrap around and contact an external surface of the carotid sheath, a conductor extending within the lead body from the proximal end towards the distal end, and at least one electrode operatively coupled to the at least one conductor located on the distal portion such that when the distal portion is in contact with the external surface of the carotid sheath, the at least one electrode is oriented in a direction towards the vagus nerve; and a pulse generator adapted to send and receive a signal for selectively applying an electrical stimulation to an electrode array defined by the one or more electrodes located on the first and second leads, wherein the electrode array is configured such that electrical stimulation applied to the electrode array facilitates steering of stimulation current density fields between the electrodes in and around the select region of the vagus nerve as desired to treat a particular medical, psychiatric or neurological disorder, and wherein different combinations of electrodes in the electrode array may be selected so as to change the stimulation current density fields in and around the select region of the vagus nerve.