Medical device for restoration of autonomic and immune functions impaired by neuropathy
First Claim
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1. A device for restoring in a human patient autonomic nervous system functions impaired by neuropathy comprising:
- one or more sensors configured to generate sensor signals in response to a characteristic associated with the patient;
a controller configured to receive the sensor signals and to issue stimulation signals based on the sensor signals; and
one or more stimulators configured to stimulate the patient in response to said stimulation signals.
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Abstract
A device and method for treatment of impairments relating to neuropathy rely on sensory substitution to train a patient to associate an affected condition with stimuli that are generated based on detection of the condition.
152 Citations
84 Claims
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1. A device for restoring in a human patient autonomic nervous system functions impaired by neuropathy comprising:
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one or more sensors configured to generate sensor signals in response to a characteristic associated with the patient;
a controller configured to receive the sensor signals and to issue stimulation signals based on the sensor signals; and
one or more stimulators configured to stimulate the patient in response to said stimulation signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 82)
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75. A method for treating autonomic neuropathy in a patient comprising:
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for a first body function that influences control of a second body function by the central nervous system, detecting a characteristic of the first body function;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detected characteristic; and
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient such that the patient is provided with an association of said stimuli to said first characteristic and with control of the second body function by the central nervous system.
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76. A method for treating silent myocardial infarct relating to sensory neuropathy, comprising:
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detecting ECG (electrocardiogram) parameters of a patient;
determining from said detecting the likely hood of a myocardial infarct;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said determining;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the likelihood of myocardial infract through sensory substitution.
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77. A method for treating conditions arising from impaired bladder sensation, comprising:
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detecting an amount of fluid in the bladder of a patient;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detecting;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the amount of fluid in the bladder through sensory substitution.
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78. A method for treating diabetic esophageal dysfunction relating to sensory neuropathy, comprising:
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detecting the location of food in the esophagus of a patient;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detecting;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the location of food in the esophagus through sensory substitution.
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79. A method for treating arrhythmias relating to sensory neuropathy, comprising:
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detecting the heart rhythm of a patient;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detecting;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the heart rhythm through sensory substitution.
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80. A method for treating abnormal pulmonary reflexes and/or respiratory problems relating to neuropathy of afferent fibers, comprising:
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detecting at least one of lung volume or blood oxygen of a patient;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detecting;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the lung volume and/or blood oxygen through sensory substitution.
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81. A method for treating immune impairment relating to sensor neuropathy, comprising:
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detecting a chemical and/or biological compound associated with the immune response of a patient;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detecting;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the immune response through sensory substitution.
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83. A method for treating baroreflex failure and/or orthostatic hypotension due to afferent sensory neuropathy or baroreceptor malfunction, the method comprising:
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detecting the position and/or change of position of at least a portion of the body of a patient;
generating one or more stimuli in accordance with said detecting;
applying said one or more stimuli to the patient; and
causing the patient to associate said one or more stimuli with the position and/or change of position of said portion of the body through sensory substitution. - View Dependent Claims (84)
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Specification