Electrical Stimulation Treatment of Bronchial Constriction

• US 20100228318A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Errico, Joseph P., Mendez, Steven, Pastena, James R., Ross, Arthur, Hu, Hecheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,246 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

Methods and devices for treating bronchial constriction related to asthma and anaphylaxis wherein the treatment includes providing an electrical impulse to a selected region of the vagus nerve and/or the lungs of a patient suffering from bronchial constriction.

Claims

1. A method of treating bronchoconstriction comprising applying at least one electrical impulse to a selected region of a parasympathetic nervous system of a patient, wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to reduce a magnitude of constriction of bronchial smooth muscle in the patient and wherein the electrical impulse has a frequency of about 10 Hz to 50 Hz.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the bronchial constriction is associated with asthma or anaphylaxis.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the selected region comprises a region of a vagus nerve of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

implanting one or more electrodes to the one or more selected regions of the parasympathetic nervous system of the patient; and

applying one or more electrical stimulation signals to the one or more electrodes to produce the at least one electrical impulse,

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse has an amplitude of between about 1 to 12 volts.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse is one or more of a full or partial sinusoid, square wave, rectangular wave, triangle wave.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse has a pulsed on-time of between about 50 to 500 microseconds.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse has a frequency of between 15 Hz and 35 Hz inclusive.

9. A method of treating asthma in a patient comprising applying at least one electrical impulse of 15 Hz to 35 Hz inclusive to a selected region of a parasympathetic nervous system of a patient.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to reduce a magnitude of constriction of bronchial smooth muscle in the patient.

11. The method set forth in claim 9 wherein the selected region comprises a region of a vagus nerve of the patient.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

implanting one or more electrodes to the one or more selected regions of the parasympathetic nervous system of the patient; and

applying one or more electrical stimulation signals to the one or more electrodes to produce the at least one electrical impulse,

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical impulse has an amplitude of between about 1 to 12 volts.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical impulse is one or more of a full or partial sinusoid, square wave, rectangular wave, triangle wave.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical impulse has a pulsed on-time of between about 50 to 500 microseconds.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the electrical impulse has a frequency of between 15 Hz and 35 Hz inclusive.