Devices and Methods for Stimulation of Tissue
First Claim
1. A hybrid chemical and electromagnetic device for electrochemically stimulating tissue, comprising:
- (a) a structure having one or more orifices, said structure comprising at least one reservoir for holding at least one chemical agent, wherein said at least one chemical agent is ejected from said one or more orifices to said tissue, wherein said tissue is chemically stimulated by said at least one chemical agent; and
(b) an electromagnetic stimulation device for delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to said tissue, wherein said delivery of said electromagnetic stimulus is for electrically, magnetically or electromagnetically stimulating said tissue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems and methods are provided for directly stimulating tissues, particularly muscle tissues, to modulate muscle contractions (i.e. provide reanimation of the muscle or to suppress undesired muscle contractions). Reanimation of muscles may be desired when damage to the brain, nervous system or neuromuscular junctions have occurred, causing a muscle tissue to lack sufficient motor control. Suppression of muscle contractions may be desired in situations of pathologically hyperactive muscles, such as in conditions of muscle spasm (e.g. blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm) or muscle dystonia. Direct stimulation is achieved by delivering a chemical agent directly to the muscle tissue, particularly the motor end plate, bypassing the nerves and neuromuscular junctions which may be damaged or diseased. Implanted hybrid chemical and electromagnetic stimulation devices can modulate muscle contraction in response to signals from a controller.
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Citations
74 Claims
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1. A hybrid chemical and electromagnetic device for electrochemically stimulating tissue, comprising:
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(a) a structure having one or more orifices, said structure comprising at least one reservoir for holding at least one chemical agent, wherein said at least one chemical agent is ejected from said one or more orifices to said tissue, wherein said tissue is chemically stimulated by said at least one chemical agent; and (b) an electromagnetic stimulation device for delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to said tissue, wherein said delivery of said electromagnetic stimulus is for electrically, magnetically or electromagnetically stimulating said tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14-67. -67. (canceled)
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68. A method for electrochemically stimulating tissue, comprising:
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(a) implanting a delivery device within a body, wherein said delivery device comprises one or more reservoirs and one or more orifices, wherein said one or more reservoirs are for storing at least one chemical agent to be released to said tissue, wherein said delivery device can be activated to release at least one chemical agent from said one or more reservoirs to said tissue through said one or more orifices; (b) activating said delivery device to release said at least one chemical agent to said tissue for chemically stimulating said tissue; and (c) delivering an electromagnetic stimulus to said tissue for electrically, magnetically, or electromagnetically stimulating said tissue. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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Specification