Public Higher Education Bulletin

Purchase from Cyberonics their VNS Therapy System/NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis for the treatment of epilepsy.

Cyberonics VNS (Vagus Nerve Stimulation) Therapy (US Patent: 8,150,524; 8,641,646; 8,260,426) is solely prescribed by the physician as it is the only non-drug treatment option that offers a unique safety profile and mechanism of action. Approved for use in refractory epilepsy and in treatment-resistant depression, VNS Therapy delivers long-term benefits to patients who have not responded well to other treatment options. VNS is short for vagus nerve stimulation ? that is, stimulation of the vagus nerve responsible for relaying messages between the brain and certain parts of the body. The VNS Therapy generator is an implantable, programmable pulse generator that delivers a precise pattern of stimulation to the left vagus nerve. The minimally invasive procedure (US Patent: 8,150,524; 8,641,646; 8,260,426) is typically performed under general anesthesia by a surgeon. A small generator about the size of a watch is placed under the skin usually in the chest area. A thin, flexible wire connects the generator to the vagus nerve in the neck, which delivers periodic pulses directly to the brain to help prevent seizures where they start.

The University has determined that this purchase is only economically available from this source because the item or service is copyrighted or patented and is not available except from the holder of the copyright or patent.