Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation devices and methods to treat or avert atrial fibrillation
View Patent ↗Energy is transmitted noninvasively to a patient using electrode-based stimulation devices or magnetic stimulation devices that are designed to non-invasively stimulate nerves selectively. The devices produce impulses that are used to treat atrial fibrillation, by stimulating a vagus nerve of a patient. The devices are also used to forecast the imminent onset of atrial fibrillation and then avert it by stimulating a vagus nerve.
1. A method of treating atrial fibrillation in a patient, comprising:
positioning a device in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient;
generating an electric current within the device, wherein the electric current comprises bursts of pulses with each burst having a frequency of about 15 to about 50 Hz and each pulse having a pulse duration of about 50 to about 1000 microseconds; and
transmitting the electric current through an electrically conductive fluid within the device transcutaneously through the neck of the patient to a vagus nerve in the patient, wherein the electric current is sufficient to terminate an episode of atrial fibrillation.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step is carried out with a pulse generator coupled to one or more electrodes.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating an electrical field at or near the device and shaping the electrical field such that the electrical field is sufficient to modulate the vagus nerve; and wherein the electric field is not sufficient to substantially modulate a nerve or muscle between the outer skin surface and the vagus nerve.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electric current is transmitted to the right vagus nerve of the patient.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein each burst of pulses contains from 2 to 20 pulses.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulses are full sinusoidal waves.