Granted Patent B2

US 9,216,290 · App. 13/893,292 · Granted Dec 22, 2015

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. A method of treating a patient having a substance addiction, comprising: operatively coupling a first electrode to a first cranial nerve of the patient; applying a first electrical signal to the first cranial nerve of the patient in a first treatment period to alleviate an acute symptom of the substance addiction; directly coupling a second electrode to a second cranial nerve of the patient; applying a second electrical signal to the second cranial nerve of the patient in a second treatment period to treat a chronic symptom of the substance addiction, wherein the first electrical signal is different than the second electrical signal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cranial nerve of the patient is a trigeminal nerve.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first cranial nerve of the patient is a glossopharyngeal nerve.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the acute symptom is selected from the group comprising: nausea; vomiting; fever; dizziness; and profuse sweating.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the chronic symptom comprises compulsive substance craving.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the substance is selected from the group comprising: cocaine; alcohol; opioids; barbiturates; benzodiazepines; cannabis; amphetamines; nicotine; and phencyclidine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first electrode comprises an external electrode coupled to skin of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second cranial nerve of the patient is a vagus nerve.

9. A method of treating a patient having a substance addiction, comprising: operatively coupling a first electrode to a first portion of a cranial nerve of the patient; applying a first electrical signal to the first portion of the cranial nerve of the patient in a first treatment period to alleviate an acute symptom of the substance addiction; directly coupling a second electrode to a second portion of the cranial nerve of the patient; applying a second electrical signal to the second portion of the cranial nerve of the patient in a second treatment period to treat a chronic symptom of the substance addiction, wherein the first electrical signal is different than the second electrical signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the cranial nerve of the patient is a vagus nerve.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the acute symptom is selected from the group comprising: nausea; vomiting; fever; dizziness; and profuse sweating.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the chronic symptom comprises compulsive substance craving.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the substance is selected from the group comprising: cocaine; alcohol; opioids; barbiturates; benzodiazepines; cannabis; amphetamines; nicotine; and phencyclidine.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the first electrode comprises an external electrode coupled to skin of the patient.

15. A system for treating a patient having a substance addiction, comprising: a first electrode operatively coupled to a first cranial nerve of the patient, wherein a first electrical signal is applied to the first cranial nerve of the patient in a first treatment period to alleviate an acute symptom of the substance addiction; a second electrode directly coupled to a second cranial nerve of the patient, wherein a second electrical signal is applied to the second cranial nerve of the patient in a second treatment period to treat a chronic symptom of the substance addiction, wherein the first electrical signal is different than the second electrical signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the acute symptom is selected from the group comprising: nausea; vomiting; fever; dizziness; and profuse sweating.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the chronic symptom comprises compulsive substance craving.

Assignments (8)