Patent Document ID: 7672727
Application ID: 11205415
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. An apparatus for applying a signal to a nerve for the treatment of a disorder, said apparatus comprising: a first electrode and a second electrode, each adapted to be secured to a vagus nerve of a patient; and a signal generator electrically connected to each of said first and second electrodes; said signal generator adapted to create a signal having a first waveform at said first electrode and a second waveform at said second electrode, wherein each of said first and second waveforms have parameters selected to block propagation of neural action potentials; wherein the parameters comprise an “on” period and an “off” period, wherein said “on” period comprises a repeating pattern of cycles of pulses and a delay period between at least selected ones of said cycles of pulses, wherein each cycle of pulses includes at least a negative pulse and a positive pulse, and wherein said delay period is less than a time period identified as sufficient for a recovery of the vagus nerve from a neural block induced by said cycle; and wherein said first and second waveforms are out of phase with each other such that during each “on” period a cycle of one of said waveforms occurs during the delay period of the other of said waveforms.