Claims
- 1. An apparatus for non-invasively treating cardiac irregularities via vagal stimulation comprising a vibration member having a size and shape sufficient to stimulate the vicinity of the vagal nerve.
- 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a motor operably connected to the vibration member.
- 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, including means for operating said motor at variable speeds.
- 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a housing from which said vibration member extends, and further including handgrips on said housing.
- 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, including at least one display indicative of operation of the apparatus.
- 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, in which the display comprises one or more lights indicative of operation of the apparatus.
- 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, including a display indicating the rate of vibration.
- 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, in which the display includes a read-out of the rate of vibration.
- 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, including vibratory means for stimulation of carotid and sinus body afferent nerves located at bifracation of carotid artery.
- 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, in which the vibration member includes a vibration tip.
- 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, in which the vibration tip measures approximately one-half inch wide by one-quarter inch deep and one inch long.
- 12. A method for non-invasively treating cardiac irregularities via stimulation in a target zone comprising afferent nerves of the carotid body and sinus on the right or left side of the human neck, comprising the steps of:
providing a device shaped to contact the neck in the vicinity of the target zone; applying pressure in the vicinity of the target zone to cause nerve stimulation.
- 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the device includes a vibration member, and said pressure can be applied with the vibration member of the device turned on.
- 14. The method according to claim 12, including a vibration member, and in which the step of applying pressure includes moving the vibration member along at least a portion of the target zone located centrally between an area starting just below the angle of the jaw below the ear to a region of the clavicular notch at the top of the sternum.
- 15. The method according to claim 12, including target zone stimulation using vibration when applying pressure.
- 16. A method for non-invasively treating atrial irregularities via nerve stimulation, comprising the steps of:
applying pressure in the vicinity of a target zone comprising afferent nerves of the carotid body and sinus with a device; and maintaining pressure for a period of time sufficient to reduce the atrial arrhythmia.
- 17. The method according to claim 16, including target zone stimulation using vibration when applying pressure.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is the non-provisional filing of provisional application Serial No. 60/248,068, filed on Nov. 14, 2000, entitled “Device and Procedure to Treat Cardiac Atrial Arrhythmias.”
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60248068 |
Nov 2000 |
US |