NON-INVASIVE TREATMENT OF BRONCHIAL CONSTRICTION

• US 20110125213A1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Published: 05/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Raffle, John T., Errico, Joseph P., Mendez, Steven, Simon, Bruce J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,840,537 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/123 Linear drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1609 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 : comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 : Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 : Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating bronchial constriction related to asthma, anaphylaxis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The treatment comprises transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers that are responsible for smooth muscle dilation. The transmitted energy impulses, comprising magnetic and/or electrical, mechanical and/or acoustic, and optical and/or thermal energy, stimulate the selected nerve fibers.

Claims

1. A method of treating bronchial constriction in a patient comprising applying one or more electrical impulse(s) to selected nerves associated with the parasympathetic nervous system of the patient, wherein the electrical impulse(s) are sufficient to stimulate afferent nerve fibers within the selected nerves such that a magnitude of constriction of bronchial smooth muscle is achieved.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse(s) are induced by a time-varying magnetic field, and wherein the magnetic field is transmitted non-invasively.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse(s) are applied with energy derived from an electric field and/or an electric current, and wherein the energy of said electric field and/or said electric current is transmitted non-invasively through the lead of an electrode or through an electrically-conducting garment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected nerve fibers are associated with a vagus nerve of the patient.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected nerve fibers are in a neck of the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected nerve fibers are within a carotid sheath of the patient.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the afferent nerve fibers modulate one or more nerves that control or modulate the release of catecholamines.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the afferent nerve fibers modulate one or more nerves that control or modulate a systemic release of catecholamines from an adrenal gland of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the bronchial constriction is associated with asthma.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the bronchial constriction is associated with anaphylaxis.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the bronchial constriction is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying step is carried out without substantially stimulating a second set of nerve fibers within the selected nerves that are responsible for increasing the magnitude of constriction of smooth muscle.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second set of nerve fibers is associated with a vagus nerve of the patient.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the second set of nerve fibers comprises parasympathetic cholinergic nerve fibers.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the second set of nerve fibers comprise efferent fibers of the vagus nerve.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse(s) have a frequency between about 15 Hz to 50 Hz.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse(s) have a pulsed on-time of between about 50 to 500 microseconds.