Patent ID: 8615309
Filing Date: 2013-12-24
Classification: A61B,A61N

Abstract:
1. A method performed by an implantable medical device to treat a medical condition in a patient having a brain, a vagus nerve, a trigeminal nerve, and a glossopharyngeal nerve, the method comprising: applying a microburst electrical signal to a portion of at least one of the vagus nerve, the trigeminal nerve, and the glossopharyngeal nerve of the patient, the microburst electrical signal comprising a series of microbursts, a number of pulses per microburst, an interpulse interval, an interburst period between successive microbursts in the series of microbursts, and a microburst duration, wherein the interburst period is at least 100 msec, the number of pulses per microburst is from 2 pulses to about 25 pulses, the interpulse interval is about 10 msec or less, and the microburst duration is less than about 1 sec; discontinuing applying the microburst electrical signal; and applying a burst electrical signal to a portion of at least one of the vagus nerve, the trigeminal nerve, and the glossopharyngeal nerve, the burst electrical signal comprising a series of bursts and a number of pulses per burst, the number of pulses per burst of the burst electrical signal being greater than the number of pulses per microburst of the microburst electrical signal, the burst duration of the burst electrical signal being greater than the microburst duration of the microburst electrical signal, wherein the burst electrical signal comprises more than 50 pulses per burst and a burst duration of at least about 7 sec, and wherein at least one of the number of pulses per microburst, the interpulse interval, the microburst duration, and the interburst period of the microburst electrical signal is selectable to enhance nerve evoked potentials in the brain of the patient.