Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that allow a patient to self-treat a medical condition, such as migraine headache, by electrical non-invasive stimulation of a nerve, such as the vagus nerve. A stimulator comprises a contact surface for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and a pulse generator coupled to the contact surface. The pulse generator is configured for attachment and electrical coupling to a mobile device configured to receive a wireless signal, such as a mobile phone. The pulse generator is further configured to generate an electrical impulse and to transmit the electrical impulse through the contact surface and the outer skin surface of the patient to modulate a nerve within the patient.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing or inhibiting an inflammatory response in a patient include a source of energy and one or more electrodes coupled to the source of energy and positionable near a vagus nerve of the patient to deliver the electrical impulse to the vagus nerve. The electrical impulse is sufficient to either inhibit a release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine, such as TNF-alpha, or increase an anti-inflammatory competence of a cytokine, such as TGF-beta, in the patient, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory response. The electrical impulse may be delivered transcutaneously and non-invasively through an outer skin surface of the patient to the vagus nerve.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for treating a patient that include delivering an electrical signal to a target nerve within the patient. The electrical signal has parameters selected to modulate the target nerve for therapeutic purposes to treat a disease or disorder in the patient.

Abstract: Methods and devices for stimulating a nerve in a patient include emitting an electrical signal near a target nerve within the patient. The electrical signal comprises bursts with a frequency of 1 to 100 Hz. Each of the bursts has 2 to 20 pulses with a duration of about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating an inflammatory or allergic response associated with a replicating pathogen, such as a virus in the coronaviridae family. The methods include emitting an electrical impulse near a vagus nerve within the patient sufficient to inhibit or reduce an inflammatory or allergic response in the patient. The systems and methods of the present invention reduce the expression of inflammatory mediators that are elevated in ARDS and other inflammatory or allergic disorders, thereby ameliorating the overactivity of the immune reaction in patient's suffering from certain disorders, such as the coronavirus. This therapy may include a feedback mechanism to provide potent anti-inflammatory benefits without the negative side effects of conventional immune suppression techniques and drugs, such as steroids and other nebulized drugs.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are provided for treating a disease or disorder in a patient. The methods incluce positioning a surface of a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of the patient and applying sufficient energy to an energy transmitter within the housing via a power supply to generate an electrical impulse at or near a vagus nerve of the patient. The the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate fibers of the vagus nerve and treat the disease or disorder.

Abstract: Methods and devices for stimulating a nerve in a patient include emitting an electrical signal near a target nerve within the patient. The electrical signal comprises bursts of about 2 to about 20 pulses and the pulses oscillate between a positive voltage and a negative voltage within each burst.

Abstract: Transcutaneous electrical and magnetic nerve stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating lower urinary tract disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by the devices. The disorders comprise overactive bladder, urge incontinence, stress, incontinence, urge frequency, non-obstructive urinary retention and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. In embodiments of the disclosed methods, a posterior tibial nerve of a patient is stimulated non-invasively. Methods are disclosed for selecting protocol parameters for a nerve stimulation session for treating each individual patient, wherein modules of the bladder of the patient are represented as coupled non-linear oscillators.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating bronchial constriction related to asthma, anaphylaxis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The treatment comprises transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers that are responsible for smooth muscle dilation. The transmitted energy impulses, comprising magnetic and/or electrical, mechanical and/or acoustic, and optical and/or thermal energy, stimulate the selected nerve fibers.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for reducing inflammation associated with an aneurysm in a patient. The methods comprise transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers, particularly those in the vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation is used to modulate the release of neurotransmitters in the brain and to reduce inflammation that may lead to the formation, growth, rupture or hemorrhage of an aneurysm.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing an autism spectrum disorder, a pervasive developmental disorder, or a disorder of psychological development. The methods comprise transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers, particularly those in a vagus nerve. The nerve stimulation may be used as a behavior conditioning tool, by producing euphoria in an autistic individual. Vagus nerve stimulation is also used to modulate circulating serotonin levels in a pregnant woman so as to reduce the risk of having an autistic child; modulate the levels of growth factors within a child; promote balance of neuronal excitation/inhibition; modulate the activity of abnormal resting state neuronal networks; increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia; and avert episodes of motor stereotypies with the aid of forecasting methods.

Abstract: Non-invasive electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches), irrespective of whether those symptoms arise from an allergy that is co-morbid with the headache. The disclosed methods may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine headaches, such as anxiety disorders.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, and other functional gastrointestinal disorders. The devices comprise a housing and an energy source for generating an electric current and transmitting the electric current from the electrode through an interface and the outer skin surface of the patient to a selected nerve fiber within the patient as the interface contacts the outer skin surface. The electric current is sufficient to modulate the selected nerve fiber to at least one of treat or prevent at least one of gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, or ileus in the patient.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the non-invasive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases through delivery of energy to target nervous tissue, particularly the vagus nerve. The methods and devices transmit an electrical impulse transcutaneously through an outer skin surface of the patient to modulate activity of a selected nerve at the target region to inhibit inflammation, enhance an anti-inflammatory competence of a cytokine in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder. The stimulation brings about reduction of neuroinflammation in patients suffering from conditions comprising Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction and postoperative delirium.

Abstract: A method for modulating a nerve within a body of a patient includes generating a single signal comprising an electrical impulse, contacting an interface with an outer skin surface of a patient and delivering the electrical impulse from an electrode through the interface and the outer skin surface of the patient to a vagus nerve, thereby modulating the vagus nerve. The electrical impulse may comprise bursts of pulses with a silent intra-burst interval between each of the bursts based on the single signal, wherein each of the bursts has a frequency of about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz and each of the pulses has a duration from about 50 microseconds to about 1000 microseconds. The electrode may be spaced from the interface by a distance of about 0.25 to about 4 times an outer dimension of the interface.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing a stroke and/or a transient ischemic attack in a patient. The methods comprise transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers, particularly those in a vagus nerve. Vagus nerve stimulation is used to modulate the release of GABA, norepinephrine, and/or serotonin, thereby providing neuroprotection to the patient; to modulate the activity of resting state neuronal networks, particularly the sensory-motor network or resting state networks containing the insula; and to avert a stroke or transient ischemic attack that has been forecasted.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating or preventing an autism spectrum disorder, a pervasive developmental disorder, or a disorder of psychological development. The methods comprise transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers, particularly those in a vagus nerve. The nerve stimulation may be used as a behavior conditioning tool, by producing euphoria in an autistic individual. Vagus nerve stimulation is also used to modulate circulating serotonin levels in a pregnant woman so as to reduce the risk of having an autistic child; modulate the levels of growth factors within a child; promote balance of neuronal excitation/inhibition; modulate the activity of abnormal resting state neuronal networks; increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia; and avert episodes of motor stereotypies with the aid of forecasting methods.

Abstract: A non-invasive electrical stimulation device shapes an elongated electric field of effect that can be oriented parallel to a long nerve, such as a vagus nerve in a patient's neck, producing a desired physiological response in the patient. The stimulator comprises a source of electrical power, at least one electrode and a continuous electrically conducting medium in which the electrode(s) are in contact. The stimulation device is configured to produce a peak pulse voltage that is sufficient to produce a physiologically effective electric field in the vicinity of a target nerve, but not to substantially stimulate other nerves and muscles that lie between the vicinity of the target nerve and patient's skin. Current is passed through the electrodes in bursts of preferably five sinusoidal pulses, wherein each pulse within a burst has a duration of preferably 200 microseconds, and bursts repeat at preferably at 15-50 bursts per second.