Methods and devices for inhibiting nerves when activating brown adipose tissue
First Claim
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1. A medical method, comprising:
- applying a first neuromodulator to a depot of brown adipose tissue (BAT), the application of the first neuromodulator causing activation of a first nerve type in the BAT so as to increase energy expenditure of the BAT, wherein applying the first neuromodulator comprises at least one of applying an electrical signal to the depot of BAT, delivering a chemical to the depot of BAT, cooling the depot of BAT, and applying a light to the depot of BAT; and
applying a second neuromodulator to the depot of BAT simultaneously with the application of the first neuromodulator, the application of the second neuromodulator inhibiting a second nerve type in the BAT that is different from the first nerve type, wherein applying the second neuromodulator comprises at least one of applying a different electrical signal to the depot of BAT, delivering a different chemical to the depot of BAT, cooling the depot of BAT, and applying a different light to the depot of BAT;
wherein the application of the second neuromodulator starts before the application of the first neuromodulator begins so as to start inhibiting the second nerve type before the first nerve type is activated; and
wherein the application of the first neuromodulator is configured to cause activation of the second nerve type, and the application of the second neuromodulator starts before the application of the first neuromodulator begins so as to prevent the second nerve type from being activated by the application of the first neuromodulator.
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for inhibiting nerves when activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). In general, a first nerve type (e.g., sympathetic nerves) innervating BAT can be activated while at least one other nerve type (e.g., parasympathetic nerves and/or sensory nerves) innervating BAT is being suppressed. A first neuromodulator (e.g., an electrical signal, a chemical, a light, cooling, etc.) can be applied to activate the first nerve type, and a second neuromodulator can be applied to inhibit the at least one other nerve type. In this way, parasympathetic nerves and/or sensory nerves innervating BAT can be inhibited when activating sympathetic nerves innervating BAT.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A medical method, comprising:
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applying a first neuromodulator to a depot of brown adipose tissue (BAT), the application of the first neuromodulator causing activation of a first nerve type in the BAT so as to increase energy expenditure of the BAT, wherein applying the first neuromodulator comprises at least one of applying an electrical signal to the depot of BAT, delivering a chemical to the depot of BAT, cooling the depot of BAT, and applying a light to the depot of BAT; and applying a second neuromodulator to the depot of BAT simultaneously with the application of the first neuromodulator, the application of the second neuromodulator inhibiting a second nerve type in the BAT that is different from the first nerve type, wherein applying the second neuromodulator comprises at least one of applying a different electrical signal to the depot of BAT, delivering a different chemical to the depot of BAT, cooling the depot of BAT, and applying a different light to the depot of BAT; wherein the application of the second neuromodulator starts before the application of the first neuromodulator begins so as to start inhibiting the second nerve type before the first nerve type is activated; and wherein the application of the first neuromodulator is configured to cause activation of the second nerve type, and the application of the second neuromodulator starts before the application of the first neuromodulator begins so as to prevent the second nerve type from being activated by the application of the first neuromodulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13)
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7. A medical method, comprising:
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neuromodulating a sympathetic nervous system of a patient proximate to a depot of brown adipose tissue (BAT) of a patient so as to activate the BAT and increase energy expenditure of the BAT, wherein neuromodulating the sympathetic nervous system comprises applying a first electrical signal to the patient; and simultaneously with the neuromodulating of the sympathetic nervous system, suppressing a parasympathetic nervous system of the patient proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue, wherein suppressing the parasympathetic nervous system comprises applying a second electrical signal to the patient, the second electrical signal having less energy than the first electrical signal by as compared to the first electrical signal, or by including a depolarizing lower energy pulse as compared to the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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14. A medical method, comprising:
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neuromodulating a sympathetic nervous system of a patient proximate to a depot of brown adipose tissue (BAT) of a patient by delivering a first stimulation to the BAT so as to activate the BAT and increase energy expenditure of the BAT; and simultaneously with the neuromodulating of the sympathetic nervous system, suppressing a parasympathetic nervous system of the patient proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue by delivering a second stimulation to the BAT; wherein the delivery of the second stimulation starts before the delivery of the first stimulation such that suppression of the parasympathetic nervous system starts before the neuromodulation of the sympathetic nervous system, and wherein the delivery of the first stimulation is configured to cause activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, and the delivery of the second stimulation starts before the delivery of the first stimulation so as to prevent the parasympathetic nervous system from being activated by the delivery of the first stimulation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification