Treatment of Obesity and/or Type II Diabetes by Stimulation of the Pituitary Gland

• US 20080255634A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Jaax, Kristen N., Whitehurst, Todd K., Foster, Allison M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,945,323 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0534 Electrodes for deep brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36085 Eating disorders or obesity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula

Abstract

Methods of treating obesity and/or type II diabetes include applying at least one stimulus to the pituitary gland of a patient with an implanted stimulator in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to treat obesity and/or type II diabetes. Systems for treating obesity and/or type II diabetes include a stimulator configured to apply at least one stimulus to the pituitary gland of a patient in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters. The at least one stimulus is configured to treat obesity and/or type II diabetes.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient with at least one of obesity and type II diabetes, comprising:

providing a stimulator;

configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat at least one of obesity and type II diabetes;

programming said stimulator with said one or more stimulation parameters;

generating a stimulus configured to treat at least one of said obesity and said type II diabetes with said stimulator in accordance with said one or more stimulation parameters; and

applying said stimulus with said stimulator to a pituitary gland within said patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining said stimulation parameters based on patient feedback.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus is configured to modulate one or more hormones produced by said pituitary gland.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said one or more hormones produced by said pituitary gland comprises an adrenocorticotropic hormone.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said stimulus is configured to inhibit production of said adrenocorticotropic hormone.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said stimulus is configured to increase production of said adrenocorticotropic hormone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulator is coupled to one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered to said pituitary gland via said electrodes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises one or more drugs delivered to said pituitary gland.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one indicator related to one or more effects of at least one of said obesity and said type II diabetes and using said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a trans-sphenoidal approach to implant said stimulator.

11. A method of treating strabismus, said method comprising:

implanting a stimulator at least partially within a patient;

configuring one or more stimulation parameters to treat at least one of obesity and type II diabetes;

programming said stimulator with said one or more stimulation parameters;

generating a stimulation current configured to treat at least one of said obesity and said type II diabetes with said stimulator in accordance with said one or more stimulation parameters; and

applying said stimulation current with said implanted stimulator to a pituitary gland of said patient.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said stimulus is configured to modulate one or more hormones produced by said pituitary gland.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said one or more hormones produced by said pituitary gland comprises an adrenocorticotropic hormone.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising sensing at least one indicator related to one or more effects of at least one of said obesity and said type II diabetes and using said at least one sensed indicator to adjust one or more of said stimulation parameters.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of implanting said stimulator comprises implanting said stimulator in accordance with a trans-sphenoidal approach.

16. A system for treating a patient with at least one of obesity and type II diabetes, said system comprising:

a stimulator configured to generate at least one stimulus in accordance with one or more stimulation parameters adjusted to treat at least one of obesity and type II diabetes;

a programmable memory unit in communication with said stimulator and programmed to store said one or more stimulation parameters to define said stimulus such that said stimulus is configured to treat said at least one of said obesity and said type II diabetes; and

means, operably connected to said stimulator, for applying said stimulus to a pituitary gland of said patient.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said stimulator is further configured to determine said stimulation parameters based on patient feedback.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said stimulus is configured to modulate one or more hormones produced by said pituitary gland.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said one or more hormones produced by said pituitary gland comprises an adrenocorticotropic hormone.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said means for applying said at least one stimulus comprises one or more electrodes, and wherein said stimulus comprises a stimulation current delivered via said electrodes.