Patent ID: 8660666

Claim:
A method of treating a brain disorder in a patient having a brain and a vagus nerve, comprising: applying to the vagus nerve of the patient a first pulsed electrical signal configured to modulate the brain of the patient to treat the brain disorder, the first pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts, wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is patterned and comprises: from 2 to 6 pulses per microburst; at least one interpulse interval, each interpulse interval of the at least one interpulse interval occurring between adjacent pulses of the microburst, each interpulse interval ranging from about 2 to about 10 milliseconds; and a microburst duration of less than or equal to 100 milliseconds; wherein each microburst of the plurality of microbursts is separated from an adjacent microburst by an interburst period of at least 100 milliseconds; measuring a first enhanced Vagal Evoked Potential (eVEP) in a target area of the patient's brain; changing at least one of the number of pulses per microburst, the interpulse interval between adjacent pulses of the microburst, the microburst duration, and the interburst period to provide a second pulsed electrical signal comprising a plurality of microbursts; applying said second pulsed electrical signal to the vagus nerve of the patient; measuring a second eVEP in the target area of the patient's brain; comparing said first eVEP and said second eVEP; selecting one of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal for continued application to the vagus nerve of the patient based upon said comparing; and applying said selected electrical signal to said vagus nerve of the patient.