Non-invasive electrical stimulation for medical disorders
Methods and devices are provided for the non-invasive treatment of diseases or disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, or postoperative delirium. A method for comprises positioning an electrode in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient and transmitting, via the electrode, an electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a vagus nerve within the patient. The electrical impulse comprises bursts of 2 to 20 pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 20 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds.
1. A method for treating a disorder in a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an electrode in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient;
transmitting, via the electrode, an electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a vagus nerve within the patient; and
wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of 2 to 20 pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 20 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase a release of retinoic acid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises burst period and constant periods, wherein the method further comprises transmitting zero pulses during the constant periods.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrical impulse alternates between a positive voltage and a negative voltage during the burst periods.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit an inflammation in the patient.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disorder is selected from a group comprising at least one of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction, or postoperative delirium.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit a release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase an activity of an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the patient.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulses have a duration of about 200 microseconds.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse has a pulsed on-time of about 100 microseconds to about 300 microseconds.
11. A method for treating Parkinson's disease in a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an electrode in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient;
transmitting, via the electrode, an electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a vagus nerve within the patient; and
wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of 2 to 20 pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 20 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase a release of retinoic acid.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises burst period and constant periods, wherein the method further comprises transmitting zero pulses during the constant periods.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical impulse alternates between a positive voltage and a negative voltage during the burst periods.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase dopamine levels in a brain of the patient.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to suppress a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase a release of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to suppress a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase a release of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
19. A method for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a patient, the method comprising:
positioning an electrode in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient;
transmitting, via the electrode, an electric current transcutaneously and non-invasively through the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a vagus nerve within the patient; and
wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of 2 to 20 pulses with each of the bursts comprising a frequency from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz and with each of the pulses comprising a duration from about 20 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase a release of retinoic acid.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises burst period and constant periods, wherein the method further comprises transmitting zero pulses during the constant periods.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the electrical impulse alternates between a positive voltage and a negative voltage during the burst periods.