BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE UTILIZATION THROUGH NEUROMODULATION

• US 20100312295A1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Leptos Biomedical, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Neisz, Johann, Vase, Abhi
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes

Abstract

Methods and devices for improved neurostimulation to treat obesity. Some methods include measuring temperature increases in Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) during intraoperative test stimulations to determine the proper nerve electrode placement for implantation. Methods can include determining the side of the patient having the most BAT, and stimulating preferentially on that right or left side. The BAT maybe used to burn fat by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system innervating the BAT deposits.

Claims

1. A method for placing an electrode for stimulating a sympathetic nerve for the purpose of inducing weight loss, the method comprising:

determining which of the right and left sides of the human back has the greater amount of brown adipose tissue (BAT);

selecting the greater amount side; and

preferentially stimulating the sympathetic nervous system on the selected side.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the determining includes using a PET scan to visualize the BAT.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the determining includes using a PET scan while the patient is at a lower than normal room temperature to visualize the BAT.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the determining includes using a PET scan while the patient is at a lower than 68 degrees F. to visualize the BAT.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the determining includes using an infra red image to visualize the BAT.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the determining includes determining the relative temperatures of BAT on the right and left wide and selecting the side with the higher temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the determining includes inserting a subcutaneous temperature probe in at least some of the BAT.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the electrode is placed on a splanchnic nerve.

9. The method of claim 1, in which the electrode is placed along the sympathetic chain.

12. The method of claim 1, in which a frequency corresponding to a high BAT temperature relative to other BAT temperatures at other corresponding frequencies is selected for the stimulating.

10. A method for placing a chronic electrode on a splanchnic nerve and/or on the sympathetic chain in the thoracic cavity, the method comprising:

stimulating the right side nerve or chain and the left side nerve or chain using a temporary electrode and observing the response of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) on the respective sides of the body; and

preferentially placing the chronic electrode on the side of the body showing the greatest response to stimulation using the temporary electrode.

11. A method for determining a stimulation frequency for stimulating a sympathetic nerve, the method comprising:

stimulating the nerve at a variety of frequencies while monitoring the response of Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT); and

stimulating the nerve at a frequency showing an optimal BAT response to the stimulating.

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