Devices and methods for non-invasive capacitive electrical stimulation and their use for vagal stimulation of the patient's neck

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus (30, 50) for modulating one or more nerves within a body of a patient comprising: - a source of energy (320) for generating an electric field; - one or more electrodes (45, 345) coupled to the source of energy; - an interface (351, 42) coupled to the electrodes and positionable against an outer skin surface of the patient; - a conduction medium (350) electrically coupling the electrodes with the interface, - a housing having an outer enclosure enclosing the electrodes and the conduction medium, wherein at least a portion of the outer enclosure comprises the interface; and wherein the source of energy is configured to deliver one or more electrical impulses from the electrodes through the conductive medium, the interface and the outer skin surface to a nerve at a target region within the patient.