Methods and devices for activating brown adipose tissue using electrical energy
First Claim
1. A medical apparatus, comprising:
- a device configured to be positioned in contact with tissue of a patient and configured to be activated, when so positioned, to deliver an electrical signal to the patient using an electrode of the device and thereby activate a first type of neurons in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of the patient without activating a second, different type of neurons in the BAT.
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) using electrical energy. In general, the methods and devices can facilitate activation of BAT to increase thermogenesis. The BAT can be activated by applying an electrical signal thereto that can be configured to target sympathetic nerves that can directly innervate the BAT. The electrical signal can be configured to target the sympathetic nerves using fiber diameter selectivity. In other words, the electrical signal can be configured to activate nerve fibers having a first diameter without activating nerve fibers having diameters different than the first diameter. Sympathetic nerves include postganglionic unmyelinated, small diameter fibers, while parasympathetic nerves that can directly innervate BAT include preganglionic myelinated, larger diameter fibers. The electrical signal can be configured to target and activate the postganglionic unmyelinated, small diameter fibers without activating the preganglionic myelinated, larger diameter fibers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A medical apparatus, comprising:
a device configured to be positioned in contact with tissue of a patient and configured to be activated, when so positioned, to deliver an electrical signal to the patient using an electrode of the device and thereby activate a first type of neurons in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of the patient without activating a second, different type of neurons in the BAT. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A medical method, comprising:
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identifying a depot of brown adipose tissue (BAT) of a patient; securing an electrode to the patient; and causing the electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the patient and thereby activate a first nerve type in the BAT without activating a second, different nerve type in the BAT, the first nerve type having a smaller diameter than the second nerve type. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A medical method, comprising:
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positioning an electrode in contact with tissue of a patient; generating an electrical signal using a signal generator; and causing the electrode to deliver the electrical signal to the patient so as to activate a first nerve type in brown adipose tissue (BAT) without activating a second, different nerve type in the BAT, the first nerve type having a smaller diameter than the second nerve type. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification