Patent ID: 6104956
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A method of treating a human or animal subject suffering from a symptom caused by traumatic brain injury or characteristic of traumatic brain injury, comprising:(a) applying to the vagus nerve of a human or animal subject suffering from a symptom caused by traumatic brain injury or characteristic of traumatic brain injury a stimulating electrical signal having parameters sufficient to alleviate said symptom;(b) monitoring said human or animal subject by clinical outcome, a clinical test, a laboratory test, or combinations thereof to determine if said symptom has been alleviated, or if farther stimulation of said vagus nerve is required,wherein said laboratory test is selected from the group consisting of a brain scan, a PET scan, a SPECT scan, monitoring the level of a neurotransmitter in the brain, and monitoring the level of a neurotransmitter in spinal fluid; and(c) if required, further stimulating said vagus nerve and monitoring said human or animal subject as in preceding steps (a) and (b), respectively, until said symptom has been alleviated.