METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NEUROSTIMULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF NICOTINE ADDICTION

The present invention describes a specific set of CES waveforms and delivery schedule which significantly reduce the symptoms of acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence that typically arise following abrupt cessation of nicotine intake, and a system for delivery of same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Nicotine Cessation

The rapid reduction in both acute and chronic withdrawal symptoms can be measured with a self-reported withdrawal symptom severity scale as shown inFIG. 1.

Typical withdrawal severity scores following abrupt cessation of nicotine and the start of neurostimulation look as shown inFIG. 2.

The present invention describes a specific set of CES waveforms and delivery schedule which significantly reduce the symptoms of acute withdrawal and protracted abstinence that typically arise following abrupt cessation of nicotine intake.

The neurostimulation commences following abrupt nicotine cessation and preferably after the patient has begun to exhibit acute withdrawal symptoms. During the period of stimulation, the patient should not receive any psychoactive substances.

The present invention is for stimulation applied to the head of the patient at the mastoid processes.

The duration of stimulation is typically between 48 and 72 hours. The stimulation algorithm below extends across 5 days to support individuals whose detoxification period is of atypically long duration.

CES Waveform

The CES waveform is a an alternating current polarized bi-phasic generally square shaped pulse train with no net DC-offset. The output may be either constant current or constant voltage, with a maximum voltage typically less than 70 volts across a 10 KOhm load. Output voltage may be set by the patient at a level of comfort, typically just below or just above the level of sensation. Within this range, treatment duration and efficacy are independent of output intensity. The pulse width of the positive-going square wave is 220 μs (microseconds), with the pulse width of the negative-going portion changing with output frequency.

Nicotine Specific Treatment Algorithm

The present invention defines a set of frequencies delivered to the patient according to the time of day as shown inFIG. 3.

As shown inFIG. 3, five (5) days of treatment are defined where each treatment day starts at 1:00am, waveform changes occur on half-hour boundaries, the character “.” is used to indicate continuation of the immediately preceding waveform. The patient's first calendar day of treatment is always considered “Day 1”, independent of the time of commencement of treatment.

The above-described steps can be implemented using standard well-known programming techniques. The novelty of the above-described embodiment lies not in the specific programming techniques but in the use of the steps described to achieve the described results. Software programming code which embodies the present invention is typically stored in permanent storage. In a client/server environment, such software programming code may be stored with storage associated with a server. The software programming code may be embodied on any of a variety of known media for use with a data processing system, such as a diskette, or hard drive, or CD ROM. The code may be distributed on such media, or may be distributed to users from the memory or storage of one computer system over a network of some type to other computer systems for use by users of such other systems. The techniques and methods for embodying software program code on physical media and/or distributing software code via networks are well known and will not be further discussed herein.

It will be understood that each element of the illustrations, and combinations of elements in the illustrations, can be implemented by general and/or special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or steps, or by combinations of general and/or special-purpose hardware and computer instructions.

These program instructions may be provided to a processor to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the processor create means for implementing the functions specified in the illustrations. The computer program instructions may be executed by a processor to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the processor to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the processor provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the illustrations. Accordingly, the figures support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions.

While there has been described herein the principles of the invention, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claims, to cover all modifications of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.