Methods of treating medical conditions by neuromodulation of the sympathetic nervous system

• US 20060111754A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Rezai, Ali, Ansarinia, Mehdi
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/00 Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36089 Addiction or withdrawal from substance abuse such as alcohol or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601

Abstract

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for treating respiratory or pulmonary medical conditions by neuromodulation of a target site of the sympathetic nervous system and preferably a target site in communication with a sympathetic nerve chain. A system for treating a respiratory or pulmonary medical condition incorporating a closed-loop feedback system is also provided.

Claims

1. A system for treating a respiratory or pulmonary medical condition comprising:

a therapy delivery device for positioning at a target site in the sympathetic nervous system; and

a controller in communication with the therapy delivery device for enabling the therapy delivery device to deliver therapy to the target site to treat the respiratory or pulmonary medical condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is in communication with a sympathetic nerve chain.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the respiratory or pulmonary medical condition is reactive airway disease, asthma, emphysema, COPD, silicosis, bronchiectasis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pleural effusion, or pulmonary edema.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is a sympathetic ganglion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the sympathetic ganglion is a paravertebral ganglion or a prevertebral ganglion.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is a paravertebral sympathetic chain.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is a nerve plexus in communication with a sympathetic ganglion.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is selected from the group consisting of a dorsal root, a ventral root, a dorsal ramus, a ventral ramus, a white ramus communicans, a gray ramus communicans, a recurrent meningeal branch, a dorsal root ganglion, plexus, or other component nerve emerging from spinal cord segments T1 to L3.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is a spinal cord segment selected from the group consisting of T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, L1, L2, and L3.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the target site is a spinal nerve selected from the group consisting of a C1-C7 cervical nerve, a T1-T12 thoracic nerve, a L1-L5 lumbar nerve, and a S1 to S5 sacral nerve.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the therapy delivery device is a stimulation lead.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the therapy delivery device is a drug port.

13. A system for treating a respiratory or pulmonary medical condition comprising:

a therapy delivery device for applying a therapy signal on a target site in the sympathetic nervous system;

a sensor for detecting a bodily activity associated with the respiratory or pulmonary medical condition and generating a sensor signal; and

a controller in communication with the therapy delivery device and the sensor for activating the therapy delivery device to initiate application of the therapy signal to the target site or to adjust application of the therapy signal to the target site in response to the sensor signal.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the target site is in communication with a sympathetic nerve chain.

15. A method of treating a respiratory or pulmonary medical condition comprising:

placing a therapy delivery device on a target site in the sympathetic nervous system; and

activating the therapy delivery device to deliver therapy to the target site to treat the respiratory or pulmonary medical condition.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the target site is in communication with a sympathetic nerve chain.