Granted Patent B2

US 12,465,768 · App. 18/335,116 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventors: Stavros Zanos (Roslyn Heights, NY); Yao-Chuan Chang (Levittown, NY)

Assignee: The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research

A61N1/36139A61N1/3615A61N1/36175

Abstract

Claims (44)

1 . A method for selective vagus nerve stimulation from an implanted vagus nerve stimulator, the method comprising:

receiving, in one or more processors, a target nerve fiber type to be activated, where the target nerve fiber type is a vagus nerve fiber type comprising an A-type, a B-type, or a C-type;

applying electrical stimulation from the implanted vagus nerve stimulator using test signal parameters that are varied while monitoring physiological measurements, wherein the physiological measurements include heart rate measurements, breathing interval measurements, and electromyography measurements;

determining one or more physiological selectivity index (PSI) values for the target nerve fiber type based on the physiological measurements, wherein the one or more PSI values for the target nerve fiber type is calculated using a different combination of physiological measurements than PSI values for a different vagus nerve fiber type;

estimating one or more neural selectivity index (NSI) values for the target nerve fiber type, wherein the one or more NSI values for the target nerve fiber type is based on an estimated magnitude of activation of the target nerve fiber type;

selecting, by the one or more processors, a preferred set of signal parameters from the test signal parameters for which the target nerve fiber type has an expected response based on the one or more PSI values and the one or more NSI values for the target nerve fiber type; and

controlling, by the one or more processors, at least one electrode to output an electrical signal from the vagus nerve stimulator based on the preferred set of signal parameters.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expected response comprises an expected activation of C-type nerve fibers, or an expected activation of at least one of A-type nerve fibers or B-type nerve fibers.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the preferred set of signal parameters are determined based on satisfying threshold NSI and PSI values for the target nerve fiber type.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the preferred set of signal parameters has a frequency that is on the order of kilohertz (kHz) and an intensity that is a multiple of a predetermined physiological threshold, wherein the multiple is greater than seven.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the at least one electrode to output the electrical signal comprises controlling, by the one or more processors based on the expected response, at least one of a frequency, an intensity, or a pulse width of the electrical signal.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication of a physiological response; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the preferred set of signal parameters based on the physiological response and the expected response.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving, by the one or more processors, an indication of a neurological response; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the preferred set of signal parameters based on the neurological response and the expected response.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the preferred set of signal parameters comprises selecting, by the one or more processors, the preferred set of signal parameters to cause the expected response for afferent C-type nerve fibers.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a frequency of the preferred set of signal parameters is at least 8 KHz.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the expected response corresponds to a compound action potential response on a millisecond time scale, a physiological response on a second time scale, and a neurological response on a minute time scale.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more NSI values is estimated using a fiber activation model.

12 . A system, comprising:

an implantable vagus nerve stimulator comprising at least one electrode; and

one or more processors configured to:

receive a target nerve fiber type, wherein the target nerve fiber type is a vagus nerve fiber type comprising an A-type, a B-type, or a C-type;

apply electrical stimulation from the implanted vagus nerve stimulator using test signal parameters that are varied while monitoring physiological measurements, wherein the physiological measurements include heart rate measurements, breathing interval measurements, and electromyography measurements;

determine one or more physiological selectivity index (PSI) values for the target nerve fiber type based on the physiological measurements, wherein the one or more PSI values for the target nerve fiber type is calculated using a different combination of physiological measurements than PSI values for a different vagus nerve fiber;

estimate one or more neural selectivity index (NSI) values for the target nerve fiber type, wherein the one or more NSI values for the target nerve fiber type is based on an estimated magnitude of activation of the target nerve fiber type;

select, a preferred set of signal parameters from the test signal parameters for which the target nerve fiber type has an expected response based on the one or more PSI values and the one or more NSI values for the target nerve fiber type; and

control the at least one electrode to output an electrical signal from the vagus nerve stimulator based on the preferred set of signal parameters.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the expected response comprises an expected activation of C-type nerve.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the preferred set of signal parameters are determined based on satisfying threshold NSI and PSI values for the target nerve fiber type.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the preferred set of signal parameters has a frequency that is on the order of kilohertz (kHz) and an intensity that is a multiple of a predetermined physiological threshold, wherein the multiple is greater than seven.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to control the at least one electrode to output the electrical signal by controlling, based on the expected response, at least one of a frequency, an intensity, or a pulse width of the electrical signal.

17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

receive an indication of a physiological response; and

modify the preferred set of signal parameters based on the physiological response and the expected response.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

receive an indication of a neurological response; and

modify the preferred set of signal parameters based on the neurological response and the expected response.

19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to select the preferred set of signal parameters to cause the expected response for afferent C-type nerve fibers.

20 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising at least one sensor coupled with a subject, wherein:

the at least one sensor is configured to monitor at least one of the physiological measurements from the subject; and

the one or more processors are configured to use a proportional-integral-derivative controller to modify the test signal parameters based on the at least one of the physiological measurements.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)