Non-invasive treatment of bronchial construction

• US 10,639,490 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: electroCore, Inc.
• Original Assignee: electroCore, Inc.
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce J., Errico, Joseph P., Raffle, John T., Mendez, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US16/030,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20180318597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 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 treating a disease or disorder in a patient, the method comprising:

positioning a surface of a housing in contact with an outer skin surface of a neck of the patient, wherein the housing is coupled to a power supply and the housing comprises an energy transmitter located within an interior of the housing; and

applying sufficient energy to the energy transmitter via the power supply to generate an electrical impulse at or near a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate afferent fibers of the vagus nerve and stimulate a release of catecholamines within the patient to treat the disease or disorder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the catecholamines comprise endogenous B-agonists, epinephrine or norepinephrine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the disease or disorder comprises bronchoconstriction and the electrical impulse is sufficient to cause a release of the catecholamines into a circulation of the patient at concentrations sufficient to produce bronchial smooth muscle relaxation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy transmitter comprises a magnetic coil and the sufficient energy comprises a magnetic field.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the magnetic coil comprises a toroid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy transmitter comprises an electrode and the sufficient energy comprises an electric current.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a frequency from about 15 to about 50 Hz.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a pulsed-on-time from about 50 to about 500 microseconds.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a volume of electrically conducting fluid within the interior of the housing, wherein the energy transmitter is at least partially surrounded by and in contact with a portion of the electrically conductive fluid.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises an electrically conductive gel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy transmitter is a first energy transmitter and the housing further comprising a second energy transmitter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the first energy transmitter and the second energy transmitter is an electrode.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical impulse is a first electrical impulse and further comprising a second electrical impulse.

14. A device for treating a disease or a disorder in patient, the device comprising:

a power source;

a housing coupled to the power source and having an interior, and an outer contact surface, wherein the outer contact surface is configured to contact an outer skin surface of a neck of a patient;

an energy transmitter positioned within the interior of the housing; and

wherein the power source is configured to supply energy to the energy transmitter and the energy is sufficient to generate an electrical impulse at a vagus nerve of the patient when the outer contact surface of the housing is in contact with the outer skin surface of the neck of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate afferent fibers of the vagus nerve and stimulate a release of catecholamines within the patient to treat the disease or disorder.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the catecholamines comprise endogenous B-agonists, epinephrine or norepinephrine.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the disease or disorder comprises bronchoconstriction and the electrical impulse is sufficient to cause a release of the catecholamines in a circulation of the patient at concentrations sufficient to produce bronchial smooth muscle relaxation.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the power source is located within the interior of the housing.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the energy transmitter comprises a magnetic coil and the energy comprises a magnetic field.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the interior of the housing is at least partially filled with an electrically conductive fluid that is in contact with, and at least partially surrounds, the energy transmitter.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises ferromagnetic particles.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the energy transmitter comprises an electrode and the energy comprises an electric current.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the electrical impulse comprises a frequency from about 15 to about 50 Hz.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the energy transmitter is a first energy transmitter and the housing further comprising a second energy transmitter.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the first energy transmitter and the second energy transmitter is an electrode.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the electrical impulse is a first electrical impulse and further comprising a second electrical impulse.