Non-invasive treatment of bronchial constriction

• US 10,016,615 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Issued: 07/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce J., Errico, Joseph P., Raffle, John T., Mendez, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US15/419,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20170136254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/123 Linear drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1609 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 : comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 : Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 : Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

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.

Claims

1. A method of non-invasively treating a disease or disorder in a patient, the method comprising:

contacting an outer skin surface of a neck of a patient with a tip extending from a housing, wherein the housing houses a vibrator and an energy source, wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate the tip, wherein the energy source is configured to power the vibrator;

vibrating the vibrator at a frequency from about 1 Hz to about 3000 Hz; and

non-invasively applying a vibration via the tip to the outer skin surface sufficient to modulate a vagus nerve of the patient and treat the disease or disorder, wherein the disease or disorder comprises bronchoconstriction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer skin surface overlies a vagus nerve of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a stationary surround to limit a spread of the vibration across the outer skin surface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tip is detachable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the frequency is from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the disease or disorder comprises hypertension and wherein the frequency is sufficient to lower a blood pressure of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-invasively applying comprises rotating the tip about a point of skin-tip contact.

9. A method of non-invasively treating a disease or disorder in a patient, the method comprising:

contacting an outer skin surface of a neck of a patient with a tip extending from a housing, wherein the housing houses a vibrator and an energy source, wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate the tip, wherein the energy source is configured to power the vibrator;

vibrating the vibrator at a frequency from about 1 Hz to about 3000 Hz; and

non-invasively applying a vibration via the tip to the outer skin surface sufficient to modulate a vagus nerve of the patient and treat the disease or disorder, wherein the vibrator comprises an impulse generator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the impulse generator comprises a magnetic coil.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the outer skin surface overlies a vagus nerve of the patient.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning a stationary surround to limit a spread of the vibration across the outer skin surface.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the tip is detachable.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency is from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the disease or disorder comprises hypertension and wherein the frequency is sufficient to lower a blood pressure of the patient.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-invasively applying comprises rotating the tip about a point of skin-tip contact.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the disease or disorder comprises bronchoconstriction.

19. A device for non-invasively treating a disease or disorder in a patient, the device comprising:

a housing having a tip extending therefrom, the tip being configured for positioning in contact with an outer surface of a neck of the patient;

a vibrator positioned within the housing and configured to vibrate the tip at a frequency from about 1 Hz to about 3000 Hz; and

a power source coupled to the vibrator, wherein the power source is configured to apply energy to the vibrator to vibrate the tip at the frequency, wherein the energy is sufficient to modulate a vague nerve of the patient and treat the disease or disorder.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the outer skin surface overlies the vagus nerve of the patient.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

22. The device of claim 19, further comprising a stationary surround coupled to the tip and configured to limit a spread of the vibration across the outer skin surface.

23. The device of claim 19, wherein the tip is detachable from the housing.

24. The device of claim 19, wherein the disease or disorder comprises bronchoconstriction.

25. The device of claim 19, wherein the disease or disorder comprises hypertension and wherein the frequency is sufficient to lower a blood pressure of the patient.

26. The device of claim 19, wherein the frequency is from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz.

27. The device of claim 19, wherein the vibrator comprises an impulse generator.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the impulse generator comprises a magnetic coil.

29. The device of claim 19, wherein the power source is positioned within the housing.