Mobile phone for treating a patient with dementia

• US 10,293,160 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: electroCore, Inc.
• Inventors: Errico, Joseph P., Mendez, Steven, Simon, Bruce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porter, Allen
• Application Number:
  US14/335,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20140330335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1125 Grasping motions of hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/352 Detecting R peaks, e.g. for synchronising diagnostic apparatus; Estimating R-R interval
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4842 Monitoring progression or stage of a disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4444 related to the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 : Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 : for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 : using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 : Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/21 : Combinations with auxiliary equipment, e.g. with clocks or memoranda pads
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that allow a patient to self-treat neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia, Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, ischemic stroke, post-concussion syndrome, chronic traumatic encephalopathy and the like by electrical noninvasive stimulation of a vagus nerve. The system comprises a handheld stimulator that is applied to the surface of the patient'"'"'s neck, wherein the stimulator comprises or is joined to a smartphone. A camera of the smartphone may be used to position and reposition the stimulator to a particular location on the patient'"'"'s neck. The system may also comprise a base station that is used to meter the charging of a rechargeable battery within the stimulator. The base station and stimulator transmit data to one another regarding the status of a stimulation session.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient with a neurodegenerative disease, the method comprising:

receiving an electrical signal at a mobile phone hosting a handheld stimulator including a contact surface, wherein the mobile phone receives the electrical signal from a signal source external to the mobile phone;

contacting an outer surface of a skin of the patient with the contact surface;

applying, as the contact surface contacts the outer surface, an electrical impulse, formed based on the electrical signal, from the contact surface to the outer surface such that the electrical impulse passes from the outer surface transcutaneously through the skin to a vagus nerve within a body of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse modulates the vagus nerve and thereby modifies the neurodegenerative disease; and

causing a function of the mobile phone to be disabled as the electrical impulse is applied from the contact surface to the outer surface, wherein the function is other than stimulation control.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical impulse increases an inhibitory neurotransmitter in a brain of the patient such that an activity of a microglial cell of the patient is modified.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrical impulse transitions the microglial cell from a M1 phenotype state to an M2 phenotype state, thereby counteracting a neuroinflammation in the brain of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurodegenerative disease comprises at least one of a dementia or an Alzheimer'"'"'s disease.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurodegenerative disease comprises a post-traumatic concussion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurodegenerative disease comprises an ischemic stroke.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prophylactically treating the neurodegenerative disease with a treatment regimen, wherein the treatment regimen comprises continuously applying the electrical impulse for a time period from about 30 seconds to about 300 seconds as a single dose and wherein the treatment regimen comprises applying a single dose on a daily basis.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the treatment regimen comprises applying from 2 to 5 single doses per day.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone includes a housing, wherein the housing includes the contact surface.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile phone is encased in a case, wherein the case includes the contact surface.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelessly transmitting the electric signal includes downloading a mobile application software onto the mobile phone.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising amplifying the electric signal.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the amplifying is performed within the handheld stimulator.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the amplifying includes electrically coupling an amplifier to at least one of the mobile phone or the handheld stimulator.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer surface extends along a neck of the patient.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical impulse comprises bursts of pulses with each of the bursts having a frequency from about 1 to about 100 bursts per second and each of the pulses having a frequency from about 1 to about 20 KHz.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting data for an electrical stimulation therapy to the mobile phone.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wirelessly transmitting data includes downloading a mobile application software program onto the mobile phone.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes an electrode that is integrated into the mobile phone.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes an electrode that is removably coupled to the mobile phone.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal includes an audio waveform, wherein the electrical impulse is formed based on the audio waveform.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld stimulator includes an electrode, and further comprising:

filtering a high frequency component of the electrical impulse between the electrode and the contact surface.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the handheld stimulator includes an electrically conductive fluid positioned between the electrode and the contact surface.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the handheld stimulator includes a low-pass filter positioned between the electrode and the contact surface.

25. A method for treating a patient with a neurodegenerative disease, the method comprising:

receiving a signal at a mobile phone from a signal source external to the mobile phone, wherein the mobile phone includes a housing, an electrode, and a contact surface, wherein the housing hosts the electrode and the contact surface, wherein the electrode is spaced apart from the contact surface, wherein the electrode resides within the housing;

positioning the contact surface in contact with an outer surface of a skin of the patient; and

applying, as the contact surface is in contact with the outer surface, an electrical impulse, formed based on the signal, from the electrode through the contact surface to the outer surface such that the electrical impulse passes from the outer surface through the skin to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electrical impulse modulates the vagus nerve and thereby modifies the neurodegenerative disease.

26. A method for treating a patient with a neurodegenerative disease, the method comprising:

receiving a signal at a mobile phone from a signal source external to the mobile phone, wherein the mobile phone includes a housing, wherein the housing is encased in a case, wherein the case includes a contact surface;

positioning the contact surface in contact with an outer surface of a skin of the patient; and

applying, as the contact surface is in contact with the outer surface, an electrical impulse, formed based on the signal, from the contact surface to the outer surface such that the electrical impulse passes from the outer surface through the skin to a vagus nerve within the patient, wherein the electrical impulse modulates the vagus nerve and thereby modifies the neurodegenerative disease.