METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE REGULATION OF HORMONE RELEASE
First Claim
1. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
- means for sensing at least one physiologic parameter of a patient, wherein said at least one physiologic parameter directly or indirectly indicates a current hormonal imbalance condition, said means for sensing comprising one of;
at least one spinal cord stimulating electrode bearing recording-type electrodes, a pressure sensor, an oxygen sensor, an activity sensor, a temperature sensor, a blood flow sensor;
means for providing stimulation to a portion of neural tissue of the patient in at least one predetermined site; and
means for controlling the stimulation means to provide stimulation to one of inhibit and increase release of a hormone when the at least one physiologic parameter indicates the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said means for controlling operates to at least partially alleviate said the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a rennin,wherein the predetermined site consists of one of;
a portion of the spinal cord at levels T7-L2, a bundle of neural fibers within a region of the T7-L2 dermatomes, a volume of neural tissue nearest the kidneys, a neuronal ganglia.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering corrective therapy through hormone regulation is provided. Inhibition of sympathetic fibers by spinal cord stimulation is used to regulate the levels of hormones such as catecholamines, renin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The invention utilizes a closed or open loop feedback system in which physiological parameters such as the concentrations of hormones and sympathetic indicators such as heart rate and urine production are monitored and used to determine the appropriate level of neurostimulation. The site of electrical stimulation includes, but is not limited to, the spinal cord at levels T7-L2 and the associated neural fibers within a region of the T7-L2 dermatomes
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
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means for sensing at least one physiologic parameter of a patient, wherein said at least one physiologic parameter directly or indirectly indicates a current hormonal imbalance condition, said means for sensing comprising one of;
at least one spinal cord stimulating electrode bearing recording-type electrodes, a pressure sensor, an oxygen sensor, an activity sensor, a temperature sensor, a blood flow sensor;means for providing stimulation to a portion of neural tissue of the patient in at least one predetermined site; and means for controlling the stimulation means to provide stimulation to one of inhibit and increase release of a hormone when the at least one physiologic parameter indicates the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said means for controlling operates to at least partially alleviate said the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a rennin,wherein the predetermined site consists of one of;
a portion of the spinal cord at levels T7-L2, a bundle of neural fibers within a region of the T7-L2 dermatomes, a volume of neural tissue nearest the kidneys, a neuronal ganglia.
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2. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
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a sensor adapted to detect at least one physiologic parameter relating to a hormonal imbalance condition of a patient, wherein said sensor sensing comprises one of;
at least one spinal cord stimulating electrode bearing recording-type electrodes, a pressure sensor, an oxygen sensor, an activity sensor, a temperature sensor, a blood flow sensor;at least one electrode adapted to be positionable at a region adjacent a portion of neural tissue of the patient; a controller adapted to generate electrical stimulation by the at least one electrode to be applied to the portion of neural tissue adjacent the at least one electrode to increase or inhibit release of a hormone to at least partially alleviate said hormonal imbalance condition, wherein at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation is controlled as a function of the sensed physiologic parameter, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and rennin. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for regulating a hormone level in a patient comprising:
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at least one electrode adapted to stimulate neural tissue in a patient'"'"'s body in at least one predetermined site to regulate a hormone level if the patient'"'"'s body via electrical stimulation therapy; at least one sensor to measure and provide information on at least one physiologic parameter related to the hormone level, wherein said sensor comprises at least one of;
at least one spinal cord stimulating electrode bearing recording-type electrodes, a pressure sensor, an oxygen sensor, an activity sensor, a temperature sensor, a blood flow sensor; anda controller coupled to the sensor and the at least one electrode to control at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation therapy based on information provided by the sensor and to increase or inhibit the release of the hormone to regulate the hormone level, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification