Systems and methods for differentiating and/or identifying tissue regions innervated by targeted nerves for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes

• US 20060200219A1
• Filed: 01/23/2006
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Checkpoint Surgical, LLC
• Original Assignee: NDI Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Rundle, Kenneth P., Strother, Robert B., Mrva, Joseph J., Thrope, Geoffrey B.
• Application Number:
  US11/337,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200219A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/05 Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves impedance plethysmography A61B5/0295; measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof A61B5/11; detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof A61B5/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4893 Nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/04 Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36514 controlled by a physiological quantity other than heart potential, e.g. blood pressure controlled by two or more physical parameters A61N1/36585

Abstract

Systems and methods make possible the differentiation and identification of tissue regions locally innervated by targeted nerves. The systems and methods make it possible to access the nervous system at these localized regions for therapeutic benefit. For example, the systems and methods can be used to access parasympathetic nerves localized in fat pads on the surface of the heart.

Claims

1. A system for differentiating and/or identifying targeted tissue regions locally innervated by a targeted nerve comprising:

a hand held instrument including an electrode configuration for applying an electrical stimulation current to a tissue region, the hand held instrument including a handle, an electrical stimulation control circuitry carried within the handle, and at least one controller carried on the handle and coupled to the control circuitry for selectively altering at least one operating parameter of the control circuitry, and

a second device that indicates a physiologic response to the presence or absence of the electrical stimulation current.

2. A system according to claim 1

wherein the targeted nerve is the vagus nerve or its branches.

3. A system according to claim 1

wherein the targeted tissue regions are epicardial fat pads on the surface of the heart.

4. A system according to claim 1

wherein the second device comprises an electrocardiography (EKG) instrument.

5. A system according to claim 1

wherein the second device comprises an instrument that monitors breathing.

6. A system according to claim 1

wherein the second device comprises an instrument that senses the secretion of gastric juice.

7. A system according to claim 1

wherein the electrode configuration comprises a bipolar array of two contacts exposed on a distal face of a probe extending off of the handle.

8. A system according to claim 1

wherein the hand held instrument is a sterile, single use instrument.

9. A system according to claim 1

wherein the operating parameters include stimulation current amplitude and stimulation pulse duration.

10. A method for treating a heart comprising

locating a fat pad region on a heart innervated by parasympathetic nerves using a system as defined in claim 1, and

manipulating the parasympathetic nervous system of the heart in the region of the fat pad for diagnostic or therapeutic benefit.

11. A method according to claim 10

further including applying a die or marker to the fat pad region to memorialize the fat pad region.

12. A method according to claim 10

wherein locating further includes applying an electrical stimulation,

observing a physiologic response to the application of the electrical stimulation,

stopping the application of the electrical stimulation, and

observing a physiologic response to the stopping the application of the electrical stimulation.