Method and system for cyclical neural modulation based on activity state

• US 20090149895A1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soovu Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Goodall, Eleanor V., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C., Dacey, Ralph G. JR., Della Rocca, Gregory J., Dowling, Joshua L., Derdeyn, Colin P., Zipfel, Gregory J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36167 Timing, e.g. stimulation onset
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 controlled by body position or posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration

Abstract

Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by repetitively or cyclically blocking conduction in a peripheral neural structure are disclosed. Timing of delivery of blocking stimuli may be based upon overall activity level of the subject or use/activity of a portion of the body of a subject.

Claims

1. A method of modulating neural activity comprising:

applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern, a cycle of the cyclical application pattern including;

a blocking period during which the blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject is applied at least intermittently, the blocking period coinciding at least in part with a first activity state in the subject; and

a release period during which no blocking stimulus is applied, the release period coinciding at least in part with a second activity state in the subject.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject substantially continuously during the blocking period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject intermittently during the blocking period.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern having a period of about one day.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce substantially complete blockage of conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce blockage of a subset of nerve fibers in the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

140. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of an overall activity of the subject or the use of a body portion innervated by the peripheral neural structure by the subject is lower in the first activity state than in the second activity state.

141. The method of claim 1, wherein the cyclical application pattern is repeated over a period of time sufficient to produce modulation of at least one of an immune response, a metabolic response, or an inflammatory response in at least a region innervated by the peripheral neural structure.

142. The method of claim 1, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern for at least one of a fixed number of cycles or a fixed duration.

143. The method of claim 21, wherein applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern includes applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce blockage of a subset of nerve fibers within at least one of a selected diameter range in the peripheral neural structure of the subject, a selected spatial distribution within the peripheral neural structure of the subject, or at least one selected fascicle within the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

144. The method of claim 1, including:

detecting the onset of the first activity state in the subject; and

initiating the blocking period responsive to detecting the onset of the first activity state in the subject.

145. The method of claim 1, including:

detecting the onset of the second activity state in the subject; and

initiating the release period during which no blocking stimulus is applied responsive to detecting the second activity state in the subject.

2-8. -8. (canceled)

11-16. -16. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

22-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A neural modulation system comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of a subject innervated by a peripheral neural structure, responsive to an activity of the at least a portion of the body of the subject;

a signal input structure operatively connected to the sensor and configured to receive the signal indicative of the activity state of at least the portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure; and

a signal processing portion configured to;

distinguish a first activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from a second activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure, at least partially based on the signal received by the signal input structure; and

generate a blocking stimulus control signal for driving production of a blocking stimulus configured to reversibly block conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject during at least a portion of the first activity state.

48. The neural modulation system of claim 39, further comprising a blocking stimulus source responsive to the blocking stimulus control signal to produce the blocking stimulus configured to reversibly block conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject during the at least a portion of the first activity state.

52. The neural modulation system of claim 39, wherein the signal processing portion is configured to perform at least one of encryption or decryption of at least one of the blocking stimulus control signal and the signal received by the signal input structure.

146. The neural modulation system of claim 39, wherein the sensor includes at least one of a pressure sensor, a force sensor, a chemical sensor, a temperature sensor, an electrical sensor, a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, or a motion sensor.

147. The neural modulation system of claim 39, including an override signal input structure configured to receive an override signal, wherein the signal processing portion is configured to override generation of the blocking stimulus control signal responsive to an override signal indicative of at least one of an override condition of the body of the subject, an override condition external to the body of the subject, or a user override request on the override signal input structure.

148. The neural modulation system of claim 39, wherein the sensor is a physiological sensor responsive to a physiological parameter of the at least a portion of the body of the subject.

149. The neural modulation system of claim 148, wherein the physiological sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of activity of a heart of the subject, activity of a brain of the subject, activity of a peripheral nervous system of the subject, activity of a muscle of the subject, respiration of the subject, or a body temperature of the subject.

150. The neural modulation system of claim 39, wherein the sensor is a physical activity sensor responsive to physical activity of the at least a portion of the body of the subject.

151. The neural modulation system of claim 150, wherein the physical activity sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one of motion of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure, acceleration of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure, body position of the subject, or posture of the subject.

40-47. -47. (canceled)

49-51. -51. (canceled)

53-66. -66. (canceled)

67. A neural modulation system comprising:

a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of a subject innervated by a peripheral neural structure;

a user input device operatively connected to the signal input structure and configured to generate a signal responsive to a user input indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of a subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure; and

a signal processing portion configured to;

distinguish a first activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from a second activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from the signal received at the signal input structure; and

generate a blocking stimulus configured to reversibly block conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject during at least a portion of the first activity state.

152. The neural modulation system of claim 67, wherein the user input device includes at least one of a voice-activated input device or a user-activated switch.

68-70. -70. (canceled)

71. A system comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing;

one or more instructions related to producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of at least a portion of a body of a subject while the at least a portion of a body of a subject is in a first activity state;

one or more instructions related to reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the at least a portion of a body of a subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the at least a portion of the body of the subject is in a second activity state; and

one or more instructions related to repeating the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the at least a portion of the body of the subject while the at least a portion of the body of the subject is in a first activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the at least a portion of a body of a subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the at least a portion of the body of the subject is in a second activity state.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the signal bearing medium bears one or more instructions related to repeating the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject while the subject is in a first activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in a second activity state cyclically, wherein each cycle includes a blocking period during which a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject is produced while the subject is in a first activity state and a release period during which no blocking stimulus is delivered.

110. The system of claim 154, wherein the signal bearing medium bears one or more instructions related to at least one of encrypting or decrypting the input indicative of an activity state of the subject.

153. The system of claim 71, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes at least one of a non-volatile memory, a computer-readable medium, a recordable medium, a communications medium, an optical fiber, a wire, a wireless communications medium.

154. The system of claim 71, wherein the signal-bearing medium bears one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of the activity state of at least a portion of the body of the subject.

155. The system of claim 154, wherein the one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of the activity state of the subject include one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of at least one of overall activity of the subject or use of a body portion innervated by the peripheral neural structure by the subject.

156. The system of claim 154, wherein the one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of the activity state of at least a portion of the body of the subject include one or more instructions related to at least one of receiving an input indicative of physiological activity of the subject, receiving an input indicative of a heart rate of the subject, receiving an input indicative of a brain activity of the subject, receiving an input indicative of a muscle activity of the subject, receiving an input indicative of respiration of the subject, receiving an input indicative of a peripheral nervous system activity of the subject, or receiving an input indicative of a body temperature of the subject.

157. The system of claim 154, wherein the one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of the activity state of at least a portion of the body of the subject include one or more instructions related to at least one of receiving an input indicative of physical activity of the subject, receiving an input indicative of motion of the subject, receiving an input indicative of a body position of the subject, or receiving an input indicative of posture of the subject.

158. The system of claim 154, wherein the one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of the activity state of at least a portion of the body of the subject include one or more instructions related to at least one of receiving an input from a pressure sensor, receiving an input from a force sensor, receiving an input from a chemical sensor, receiving an input from a temperature sensor, receiving an input from an electrical sensor, receiving an input from a magnetic sensor, receiving an input from an optical sensor, receiving an input from a motion sensor, or receiving an input from a switch.

159. The system of claim 71, wherein the signal-bearing medium bears one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of a user instruction.

160. The system of claim 159, wherein the one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of a user instruction include one or more instructions related to at least one of receiving an input from a user input device, receiving an input from a voice-activated input device, or receiving an input from a user-activated switch.

73-109. -109. (canceled)

111-115. -115. (canceled)

116. A system comprising:

a signal bearing medium bearing;

one or more instructions related to applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern, a cycle of the cyclical application pattern including;

a blocking period during which the blocking stimulus sufficient produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject is applied at least intermittently, the blocking period coinciding at least in part with a first activity state in the subject; and

a release period during which no blocking stimulus is applied, the release period coinciding at least in part with a second activity state in the subject.

117. The system of claim 116, wherein the signal bearing medium bears:

one or more instructions related to receiving an input indicative of an activity state of the subject, wherein the input is indicative of at least one of the first activity state and the second activity state of the subject.

120. The system of claim 116, wherein the one or more instructions related to applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern include one or more instructions related to applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject substantially continuously during the blocking period.

121. The system of claim 116, wherein the one or more instructions related to applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a cyclical application pattern include one or more instructions related to applying a blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block of at least a portion of a peripheral neural structure of a subject intermittently during the blocking period.

134. The system of claim 162, wherein the one or more instructions related to initiating a blocking period during which a blocking stimulus sufficient produce to reversible conduction block of at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject is applied at least intermittently responsive to detecting the onset of a first activity state in the subject include one or more instructions related to initiating the blocking period substantially immediately upon detecting the onset of the first activity state in the subject.

161. The system of claim 116, wherein the signal-bearing medium includes at least one of a computer-readable medium, a recordable medium, a non-volatile memory, a communications medium, an optical fiber, a wire, a wireless communications medium.

162. The system of claim 116, wherein the signal-bearing medium bears:

one or more instructions related to detecting the onset of the first activity state in the subject; and

one or more instructions related to initiating a blocking period during which a blocking stimulus sufficient produce to reversible conduction block of at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject is applied at least intermittently responsive to detecting the onset of the first activity state in the subject.

163. The system of claim 116, wherein the signal-bearing medium bears:

one or more instructions related to detecting the onset of the second activity state in the subject; and

one or more instructions related to initiating a release period during which no blocking stimulus is applied responsive to detecting the onset of the second activity state in the subject.

118-119. -119. (canceled)

122-133. -133. (canceled)

135-139. -139. (canceled)