Devices and methods for treating or preventing development disorders
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing a developmental disorder, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, overactive disorder, pervasive developmental disorder. A device comprises an electrode having a contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and a power source coupled the electrode. The power source generates and transmits an electrical impulse having a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 kHz through the contact surface and the outer skin surface to a nerve within the patient. The electrical impulse is sufficient to modify the behavioral disorder in the patient.
1. A method for treating a developmental condition or disorder, comprising:
positioning an electrode in contact with an outer skin surface of a pregnant woman to treat the developmental condition or disorder in a fetus within the pregnant woman;
generating an electrical impulse with an energy source
transmitting the electrical impulse through the electrode and the outer skin surface to a nerve within the pregnant woman, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modify the developmental condition or disorder in the fetus, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 kHz.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency is about 2.5 kHz to about 7.5 kHz.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a housing, wherein the electrode is housed within, or on, the housing.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the power source is housed within the housing, wherein the power source comprises a signal generator coupled to the electrode within the housing.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of about 2 to about 20 pulses with a silent intra-burst interval between each burst and wherein each pulses have a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 kHz.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each burst has a frequency of about 1 to about 100 bursts per second and each pulse is about 50 to 1000 microseconds in duration.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nerve is a vagus nerve.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the electrode in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the pregnant woman.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the developmental condition or disorder comprises attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, overactive disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the electrical impulse according to a treatment regimen that comprises transmitting the electrical impulse for a time period of less than 30 minutes several times a week.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the electrical impulse during a first trimester of the pregnant woman's pregnancy.