Lumen-traveling biological interface device and method of use

• US 20070244520A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Jung, Edward, Leuthardt, Eric, Hyde, Roderick, Tegreene, Clarence, Myhrvold, Nathan, Wood, Lowell, Ishikawa, Muriel, Hillis, W., Wood, Victoria
• Application Number:
  US11/726,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20070244520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• 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 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/065 Y-shaped blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0068 the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/02 Details
• 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 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/00 Magnetotherapy

Abstract

Lumen-traveling biological interface devices and associated methods and systems are described. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices capable of traveling within a body lumen may include a propelling mechanism to produce movement of the lumen-traveling device within the lumen, electrodes or other electromagnetic transducers for detecting biological signals and electrodes, coils or other electromagnetic transducers for delivering electromagnetic stimuli to stimulus responsive tissues. Lumen-traveling biological interface devices may also include additional components such as sensors, an active portion, and/or control circuitry.

Claims

1. A method of emplacing an electromagnetic stimulation device, comprising:

causing a self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site;

if a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree is reached by the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device, causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to enter a selected branch; and

causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site.

2. The method of claim 1, including introducing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device into the body tube tree.

3. The method of claim 1, including causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to engage a wall of the body tube tree at the target site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected branch is expected to lead toward the target site.

17. The method of claim 1, including selecting the target site by selecting a site in proximity to a stimulation target, the stimulation target including tissue responsive to electromagnetic stimulation.

31. The method of claim 1, including selecting the target site based upon anatomical information.

32. The method of claim 1, including selecting the target site based upon measurement of a physiological parameter.

40. The method of claim 1, including detecting the branch point with a sensor on the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device.

66. The method of claim 1, including emplacing at least one additional self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device by:

causing the at least one additional self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward an additional target site;

if a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree is reached by the at least one additional self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device, causing the at least one self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to enter a selected branch; and

causing the at least one self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the additional target site.

122. The method of claim 1, wherein the body tube tree is selected from a cardiovascular system of the subject, a respiratory system of the subject, and a CSF-space of the subject.

123. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward the target site selected from a site located within a chamber of a heart of the subject and a site located within a vasculature of a brain of the subject.

124. The method of claim 123, wherein the target site is located within the vasculature of the brain of the subject in the vicinity of at least one of a hypothalamus, a cingulate cortex, a fornix, an anterior thalamus, a subthalamic nucleus, an insula, or a globus pallidus interna.

125. The method of claim 17, wherein the stimulation target includes at least one of at least a portion of a hypothalamus, at least a portion of a cingulate cortex, at least a portion of a fornix, at least a portion of an anterior thalamus, at least a portion of a subthalamic nucleus, at least a portion of an insula, at least a portion of a globus pallidus interna, at least a portion of a deep brain, at least a portion of a muscle, at least a portion of a heart, at least a portion of a gastrointestinal tract, at least a portion of a lung, or at least a portion of a urogenital tract.

126. The method of claim 1, including selecting the target site based upon measurement of a physiological signal including at least one of a signal characteristic of a selected region of a nervous system, a signal characteristic of a selected region of a heart, a signal having a signal-to-noise ratio indicative of good signal transduction path between the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device and the stimulation target.

127. The method of claim 1, wherein said causing a self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site includes at least one of causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a remote portion or causing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a control system located at least in part on the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device.

128. The method of claim 1, including introducing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device into the body tube tree of a subject by a method selected from releasing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device from a catheter introduced into the body tube tree of the subject and introducing the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device into the body tube tree by injection.

129. The method of claim 1, including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by at least one of causing at least a portion of the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to expand to form a pressure fit with the wall of the body tube tree, releasing an adhesive material from the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device, or extending at least one claw or barb-like structure from the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to penetratingly engage the wall of the body tube tree.

130. The method of claim 17, including delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device, wherein delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device includes delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with a single electromagnetic transducer or delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with multiple electromagnetic transducers.

131. The method of claim 17, including delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device, the electromagnetic stimulus including at least one of a depolarizing electromagnetic stimulus, a hyperpolarizing electromagnetic stimulus, a functionally inhibiting electromagnetic stimulus, a functionally promoting electromagnetic stimulus, or a pulsatile electromagnetic stimulus.

132. The method of claim 17, including:

detecting a signal from the stimulation target or at least one region associated therewith; and

delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device responsive to detecting the signal from the stimulation target or the at least one region associated therewith, wherein the signal includes at least one of a bioelectric signal, a biomagnetic signal, a biochemical signal, or a biophysical signal.

133. The method of claim 17, including delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device;

wherein delivering the electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device includes delivering the electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target in response to a remote control signal or delivering the electromagnetic stimulus to the stimulation target based upon a pre-programmed stimulation pattern.

134. The method of claim 1, including at least one of storing a record of the operation of the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device, transmitting a representation of an activity of the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to a remote portion, or transmitting information relating to the operation of the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device to a remote portion.

135. The method of claim 1, including at least one of pulling one or more electromagnetic stimulation devices toward the target site with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device or pushing one or more electromagnetic stimulation devices toward the target site with the self-propelling electromagnetic stimulation device.

5-16. -16. (canceled)

18-30. -30. (canceled)

33-39. -39. (canceled)

41-65. -65. (canceled)

67-68. -68. (canceled)

69. A method of emplacing a neural stimulation device, comprising:

causing a self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site;

if a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree is reached by the self-propelling neural stimulation device, causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to enter a branch leading toward the target site; and

causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site.

75. The method of claim 69, wherein causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a control system located at least in part on the self-propelling neural stimulation device.

136. The method of claim 69, wherein the body tube tree is selected from a vascular system of the subject, a respiratory system of the subject, and a CSF-space of the subject.

137. The method of claim 69, wherein causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree of the subject toward the target site includes causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree toward the target site selected from a site located within a chamber of a heart of the subject, a site located within a brain of the subject, a site located within a spinal canal of the subject, a site located within a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, a site located within a urogenital system of the subject, and a site located within a musculature of the subject.

138. The method of claim 69, wherein the self-propelling neural stimulation device is at least one of an electrical stimulation device, a magnetic stimulation device, an optical stimulation device, or a chemical stimulation device.

139. The method of claim 69, including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by at least one of causing at least a portion of the self-propelling neural stimulation device to expand to form a pressure fit with the wall of the body tube tree, releasing an adhesive material from the self-propelling neural stimulation device, or extending at least one claw or barb-like structure from the self-propelling neural stimulation device to penetratingly engage the wall of the body tube tree.

140. The method of claim 69, wherein causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site includes causing the self-propelling neural stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site by at least one of engaging the wall of the body tube tree at the target site, discontinuing propulsion of the self-propelling neural stimulation device, or applying a force to oppose propulsion of the self-propelling neural stimulation device.

70-74. -74. (canceled)

76-100. -100. (canceled)

101. A method of emplacing a cardiac stimulation device, comprising:

causing a self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site;

if a branch point including two or more branches within the body tube tree is reached by the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device, causing the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to enter a branch leading toward the target site; and

causing the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to stop traveling upon reaching the target site.

102. The method of claim 101, including introducing the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device into the body tube tree of the subject.

118. The method of claim 101, including detecting the branch point with a sensor on the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device.

141. The method of claim 101, including at least one of pushing one or more additional cardiac stimulation devices with the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device or pulling one or more additional cardiac stimulation devices with the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device.

142. The method of claim 101, wherein said causing a self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within a body tube tree of a subject toward a target site includes at least one of causing the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a control system located at least in part on the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device or causing the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to travel within the body tube tree under the control of a remote portion.

143. The method of claim 101, wherein the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device is at least one of an electrical stimulation device, a magnetic stimulation device, an optical stimulation device, or a chemical stimulation device.

144. The method of claim 101, including selecting the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device by selecting a self-propelling cardiac stimulation device sized to fit within the target site from an assortment of self-propelling cardiac stimulation devices of different sizes.

145. The method of claim 101, including engaging a wall of the body tube tree by at least one of causing at least a portion of the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to expand to form a pressure fit with the wall of the body tube tree, releasing an adhesive material from the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device, or extending at least one claw or barb-like structure from the self-propelling cardiac stimulation device to penetratingly engage the wall of the body tube tree.

103-117. -117. (canceled)

119-121. -121. (canceled)