Nerve-branch-specific action-potential activation,inhibition, and monitoring

• US 20050149154A1
• Filed: 12/29/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Cohen, Ehud, Ben-David, Tamir, Ayal, Shai, Ben-Ezra, Omry
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes

Abstract

A dual electrode arrangement, is provided, wherein two, preferably unidirectional, electrode configurations flank a nerve junction from which a preselected nerve branch issues, proximally and distally to the junction, with respect to the brain. The arrangement is conducive to the following: generating efferent action-potential propagations, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch, inhibiting afferent action-potential propagations, from the preselected nerve branch, selectively generating action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch, and selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch. The dual electrode arrangement is further conducive to monitoring naturally-occurring, efferent action-potential propagations, heading towards the preselected nerve branch, and monitoring naturally-occurring, afferent action-potential propagations, from the preselected nerve branch. The unidirectional electrode configurations may be monopolar, bipolar, tripolar, or multipolar. Communication with extracorporeal stations, and closed loop operations are also provided.

Claims

1. A dual electrode arrangement for nerve-branch-specific, action-potential association, comprising:

a proximal electrode configuration, implanted on a nerve trunk, proximally to a junction of said nerve trunk with a preselected nerve branch; and

a distal electrode configuration, implanted on said nerve trunk, distally to said junction.

2. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 1, wherein said proximal electrode configuration is a cathode, adapted to generate an action-potential propagation, and said distal electrode configuration is an anode, adapted to block an action potential propagation, by hyperpolarization.

3. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 1, wherein said proximal and distal electrode configurations are unidirectional electrode configurations, each adapted for generating an action-potential propagation substantially in one direction, said unidirectional electrode configurations being arranged as mirror images to each other, so that the generated action-potential propagations are towards each other.

4. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 3, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are monopolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

5. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 3, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are bipolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

6. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 3, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are tripolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

7. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 3, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are multipolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

8. The dual electrode arrangement of claim 1, wherein said nerve-branch-specific, action-potential association is selected from the group consisting of:

generating efferent action-potential propagations, substantially restricted to said preselected nerve branch;

inhibiting afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch;

selectively generating action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch;

selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch;

monitoring naturally-occurring, efferent action-potential propagations, heading towards said preselected nerve branch; and

monitoring naturally-occurring, afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch.

9. An apparatus for nerve-branch-specific, action-potential association, comprising:

a dual electrode arrangement, which comprises;

a proximal electrode configuration, implanted on a nerve trunk, proximally to a junction of said nerve trunk with a preselected nerve branch; and

a distal electrode configuration, implanted on said nerve trunk, distally to said junction; and

an electronic unit, in signal communication with said dual electrode arrangement.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said proximal electrode configuration is a cathode, adapted to generate an action-potential propagation, and said distal electrode configuration is an anode, adapted to block an action potential propagation, by hyperpolarization.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic unit comprises a controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising a sensor unit, in communication with said controller.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic unit comprises a pulse generator.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic unit comprises an amplification component.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic unit comprises a receiver.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said electronic unit comprises a transmitter.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said proximal and distal electrode configurations are unidirectional electrode configurations, each adapted for generating an action-potential propagation substantially in one direction, said unidirectional electrode configurations being arranged as mirror images to each other, so that the generated action-potential propagations are towards each other.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are monopolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are bipolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are tripolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are multipolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, and further including spacers for preventing direct contact between a metal and a nerve tissue.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are activated by a stimulation current, which is no greater than 20 mA.

24. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said nerve-branch-specific, action-potential association is selected from the group consisting of:

generating efferent action-potential propagations, substantially restricted to said preselected nerve branch;

inhibiting afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch;

selectively generating action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch;

selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch;

monitoring naturally-occurring, efferent action-potential propagations, heading towards said preselected nerve branch; and

monitoring naturally-occurring, afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch.

25. A method for nerve-branch-specific, action-potential association, comprising:

implanting a proximal electrode configuration, on a nerve trunk, proximally to a junction of said nerve trunk with a preselected nerve branch;

implanting a distal electrode configuration, on said nerve trunk, distally to said junction; and

providing an electronic unit, in signal communication with said proximal and distal electrode configurations.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said proximal electrode configuration is a cathode, adapted to generate an action-potential propagation, and said distal electrode configuration is an anode, adapted to block an action potential propagation, by hyperpolarization.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said proximal and distal electrode configurations are unidirectional electrode configurations, each adapted for generating an action-potential propagation substantially in one direction, said unidirectional electrode configurations being arranged as mirror images to each other, so that the generated action-potential propagations are towards each other.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are monopolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are bipolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are tripolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said unidirectional electrode configurations are multipolar, unidirectional electrode configurations.

32. The method of claim 27, comprising generating efferent action-potential propagations, substantially restricted to said preselected nerve branch.

33. The method of claim 27, comprising inhibiting afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch.

34. The method of claim 27, comprising selectively generating action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch.

35. The method of claim 27, comprising selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch.

36. The method of claim 25, comprising monitoring naturally-occurring, efferent action-potential propagations, heading towards said preselected nerve branch.

37. The method of claim 25, comprising monitoring naturally-occurring, afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch.

38. The method of claim 25, comprising activating said proximal and distal electrode configurations in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

39. The method of claim 25, comprising activating said proximal and distal electrode configurations simultaneously.

40. A set of unidirectional electrodes, located around a nerve branch, configured to generate action-potential propagations only in said nerve branch.

41. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to generate an action-potential propagation in said nerve branch, to affect an organ.

42. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to block afferent an action-potential propagation originating from an organ.

43. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch.

44. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to selectively inhibiting action-potential propagations, in a subset of nerve fibers of a predetermined diameter range, substantially restricted to the preselected nerve branch.

45. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to monitoring naturally-occurring, efferent action-potential propagations, heading towards said preselected nerve branch.

46. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to monitoring naturally-occurring, afferent action-potential propagations, from said preselected nerve branch.

47. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, further configured to selective activate and block action potential associated with said nerve branch, by stimulating only a sub set of nerve fibers, selected according to their fiber velocity.

48. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein each unidirectional electrode is monopolar.

49. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein each unidirectional electrode is bipolar.

50. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein each unidirectional electrode is tripolar.

51. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein each unidirectional electrode is multipolar.

52. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein said unidirectional electrodes are activated in accordance with a predetermined schedule.

53. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein said unidirectional electrodes are activated simultaneously.

54. The set of unidirectional electrodes of claim 40, wherein said unidirectional electrodes are activated by a stimulation current which is no greater than 20 mA.