Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating obese or other patients with compulsive overeating disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location below the patient's diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to induce weight loss of the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating obese or other patients with compulsive overeating disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location below the patient's diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to induce weight loss of the patient.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for electrically stimulating a cranial nerve, especially a vagus nerve, to treat or alleviate angina pectoris. Pain is lessened or prevented by application of predetermined therapeutic electrical signal to a selected location on the cranial nerve of a patient using an implanted neurostimulating device. Such method employs selective application of electrical signals to a predetermined location on the nerve to alter the activity of the nerve and cause dilation of a coronary artery in the patient, which in turn provides complete or partial relief of chest pain or deters the onset of such pain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating patients suffering from severe, unrelenting pain. A therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied from a stimulus generator, when activated, to at least some of plural electrodes implanted in stimulating relation to at least two nerves among the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and the stimulus generator is activated to generate the therapeutic stimulation signal to alleviate the pain under treatment. Alternatively, the therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied to at least one electrode implanted in stimulating relation to at least one of the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and if the selected nerve is the vagus nerve, the signal is applied to a supra-diaphragmatic or sub-diaphragmatic site, either unilaterally or bilaterally to one or both branches, respectively, of the vagus nerve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating obese or other patients with compulsive overeating disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location below the patient's diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to induce weight loss of the patient.

Abstract: A device for treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure includes an implantable neurostimulator for stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at or above the cardiac branch with an electrical pulse waveform at a stimulating rate sufficient to maintain the patient's heart beat at a rate well below the patient's normal resting heart rate, thereby allowing rest and recovery of the heart muscle, to increase in coronary blood flow, and/or growth of coronary capillaries. A metabolic need sensor detects the patient's current physical state and concomitantly supplies a control signal to the neurostimulator to vary the stimulating rate. If the detection indicates a state of rest, the neurostimulator rate reduces the patient's heart rate below the patient's normal resting rate. If the detection indicates physical exertion, the neurostimulator rate increases the patient's heart rate above the normal resting rate.

Abstract: A method for treating patients with movement disorders includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location in the vicinity of the patient's diaphragm, either slightly above or slightly below the diaphragm. A device for performing the method includes a government approved implantable neurostimulator which is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to generate the desired therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder by application of the therapeutic electrical stimulation signal to a selected nerve. Automatic detection or patient sensing of a symptom of the disorder may be utilized for activating the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating patients with neuropsychiatric disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location in the vicinity of the patient's diaphragm, either slightly above or slightly below the diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to generate the desired therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder. Patient activation of the device is permitted in the case of treating a neuropsychiatric disorder such as depression, where the patient is able to sense a symptom of a disorder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating obese or other patients with compulsive overeating disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location below the patient's diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to induce weight loss of the patient.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating patients suffering from severe, unrelenting pain. A therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied from a stimulus generator, when activated, to at least some of plural electrodes implanted in stimulating relation to at least two nerves among the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and the stimulus generator is activated to generate the therapeutic stimulation signal to alleviate the pain under treatment. Alternatively, the therapeutic stimulation signal is selectively applied to at least one electrode implanted in stimulating relation to at least one of the patient's trigeminal, vagus, glossopharyngeal and sympathetic nerves, and if the selected nerve is the vagus nerve, the signal is applied to a supra-diaphragmatic or sub-diaphragmatic site, either unilaterally or bilaterally to one or both branches, respectively, of the vagus nerve.

Abstract: A device for treating patients suffering from congestive heart failure includes an implantable neurostimulator for stimulating the patient's vagus nerve at or above the cardiac branch with an electrical pulse waveform at a stimulating rate sufficient to maintain the patient's heart beat at a rate well below the patient's normal resting heart rate, thereby allowing rest and recovery of the heart muscle, to increase in coronary blood flow, and/or growth of coronary capillaries. A metabolic need sensor detects the patient's current physical state and concomitantly supplies a control signal to the neurostimulator to vary the stimulating rate. If the detection indicates a state of rest, the neurostimulator rate reduces the patient's heart rate below the patient's normal resting rate. If the detection indicates physical exertion, the neurostimulator rate increases the patient's heart rate above the normal resting rate.

Abstract: A method for treating patients with movement disorders includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location in the vicinity of the patient's diaphragm, either slightly above or slightly below the diaphragm. A device for performing the method includes a government approved implantable neurostimulator which is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to generate the desired therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder by application of the therapeutic electrical stimulation signal to a selected nerve. Automatic detection or patient sensing of a symptom of the disorder may be utilized for activating the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating patients with neuropsychiatric disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location in the vicinity of the patient's diaphragm, either slightly above or slightly below the diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to generate the desired therapy regimen for alleviating the disorder. Patient activation of the device is permitted in the case of treating a neuropsychiatric disorder such as depression, where the patient is able to sense a symptom of a disorder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating obese or other patients with compulsive overeating disorder includes unilaterally or bilaterally stimulating one or both of the left and right branches of a patient's vagus nerve directly or indirectly with an electrical pulse signal generated by an implantable neurostimulator with at least one operatively coupled nerve electrode to apply the pulse signal to the selected nerve branch at a location below the patient's diaphragm. The implantable neurostimulator is programmable to enable physician programming of electrical and timing parameters of the pulse signal, to induce weight loss of the patient.

Abstract: A DC biopotential sensing electrode assembly is provided for an apparatus for sensing DC biopotentials present at the skin of a subject. An electroconductive medium for transmitting ions from the skin which has a chloride ion content within a range of from 6-15 grams per hundred grams of such medium is formulated for use with the electrode. To reduce the corrosive effect of this electroconductive medium, each electrode includes only one metallic component, and to provide an electrode with a low AC impedance, this metal is uniformly coated upon nonmetallic sensor and terminal bodies with a coating thickness within a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 mil. To insure a complete electrical path through both the sensor and the terminal bodies, the nonmetallic portions are formed of conductive plastic.

Abstract: A DC biopotential sensing electrode assembly is provided for an apparatus for sensing DC biopotentials present at the skin of a subject. The electrodes include an electroconductive medium for transmitting ions from the skin which has a chloride content within a range of from 6-15 grams per hundred grams of such medium. To reduce the corrosive effect of this electroconductive medium, each electrode includes only one metallic component, and to provide an electrode with a low AC impedance, this metal is uniformly coated upon nonmetallic sensor and terminal bodies with a coating thickness within a range of from 0.5 to 1.5 mil. To insure a complete electrical path through both the sensor and the terminal bodies, the nonmetallic portions are formed of conductive plastic.