Smooth muscle controller

• US 20030055465A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MetaCure Limited (MetaCure (USA), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metacure NV
• Inventors: Ben-Haim, Shlomo, Darvish, Nissim, Mika, Yuval, Shemer, Isaac, Fenster, Maier, Felzen, Bella
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36564 controlled by blood pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators

Abstract

A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle, comprising selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion and applying a non-excitatory electrical field to the portion, which field reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling at least the local activity of a portion of an in vivo gland, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes, adapted to be in contact with a portion of gland to be controlled; and

a controller which electrifies said electrodes with an electrical field which does not generate a propagating action potential in the gland, which electrical field modifies the reaction of the gland to an activation signal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical activity sensor which detects electrical activity at the portion and wherein the controller electrifies the electrodes responsive to signals from said sensor.

3. A method for controlling at least the local activity of a portion of an in vivo gland using the apparatus of claim 2, wherein applying an electric field comprises applying the electric field at a delay after a local activation time.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electrification at each of the electrodes is responsive to its local electrical activity.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the electrical activity sensor senses electrical activity through ones of the plurality of electrodes.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an impedance sensor, which senses at least one impedance between selected ones of the plurality of electrodes.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller applies an inhibitory electric field to the Gland, when the activity is above a certain threshold.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory field inhibits hormonal secretion at the portion.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory field reduces the hormonal secretion at the portion.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the non-excitatory field increases the hormonal secretion at the portion.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller additionally electrifies at least one of the electrodes with an excitatory electric field.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller selectively electrifies ones of the plurality of electrodes to selectively generate one of two perpendicular electric fields.

14. A method of controlling the output of a gland, comprising:

providing at least one electrode near the gland; and

applying a non-excitatory electric field to the gland.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the non-excitatory electric field inhibits the activity of hormone producing cells in the gland.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the non-excitatory electric field is a substantially DC field.

17. A method according to claim 16, comprising periodically changing the polarity of the field.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the gland is a pancreas.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising monitoring a level of glucose in the blood, wherein applying the electric field comprises applying the field responsive to said monitored level.

20. Apparatus for controlling the output of a gland, comprising:

a sensor for measuring a level of a chemical in a blood stream;

at least one electrode adjacent said gland; and

a controller which electrifies said electrode with a non-excitatory electric field, responsive to the measured level.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the chemical is glucose.

22. Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said apparatus is completely implantable.

23. A method of controlling the activation profile of a gland, comprising:

determining a desired activation profile for the gland; and

applying at least one non-excitatory field to a portion of the gland to modify its activation profile.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein applying an electric field comprises applying the electric field at a delay after a local activation time

25. A method according to claim 23, further comprising, applying at least one excitatory electric field to the gland.

26. A method according to claim 23, wherein applying a non-excitatory field comprises applying an inhibitory electric field to the gland.

27. A method according to claim 23, wherein applying a non-excitatory field comprises applying an electric field which reduces hormonal secretion in the gland.

28. A method according to claim 23, wherein applying a non-excitatory field comprises applying an electric field which increases hormonal secretion in the gland.