APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS TO MUCOUS OR SEROUS MEMBRANE

• US 20120298105A1
• Filed: 05/26/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivan Osorio
• Original Assignee: Flint Hills Scientific, LLC
• Inventors: Osorio, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,052 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/203.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0001 Details of inhalators; Constructional features thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0003 with means for dispensing more than one drug
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0066 with means for varying the dose size
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/085 Fixing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 19/00 Local anaesthesia syringes therefor A61M5/00; Hypothermia A61M5/42 takes precedence; cooling blood in a bypass of the arterial system A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0466 Saliva
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0496 Urine
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3303 Using a biosensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3523 using telemetric means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 : Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 : Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/20 : Blood composition characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 : Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/30 : Blood pressure A61M2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/40 : Respiratory characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/432 : partial CO2 pressure (P-CO2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0546 : Nasal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 : Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36064 : Epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for mucous membrane therapy. The method includes receiving at least one body signal from a patient; detecting a condition of the patient based on the body signal; and administering the therapy to at least one of a mucous membrane or a serous membrane of the patient. A medical device system configured to implement the method is provided. A computer-readable storage device for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving at least one body signal from a patient;

detecting a condition of said patient based on said body signal; and

administering a therapy to at least one of a mucous membrane or a serous membrane of said patient, in response to said detecting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said condition is a neurological or a psychiatric condition.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said neurological condition is epilepsy, headache, or a movement disorder.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said neurological condition is epilepsy;

and said body signal is at least one of a cardiac signal, a respiration signal, a body movement signal, a skin resistance signal, a responsiveness signal, or an awareness signal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising delivering an electrical stimulation therapy to a cranial nerve of said patient.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said therapy is a medicament, said medicament is selected from a benzodiazepine, a barbiturate, a CNS depressant drug, an anti-seizure drug, a local anesthetic, a vasoactive agent, an anti-inflammatory drug, a non-narcotic analgesic, a narcotic analgesic, a medicinal gas, or two or more thereof, wherein the medicament is delivered in an absorbable or inhalable form.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said neurological condition is migraine;

and said body signal is a skin resistance signal.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said neurological condition is a movement disorder;

and said body signal is a body movement signal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said condition is a non-neurological condition.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said non-neurological condition is asthma, COPD, a cardiac disorder, vasodepressive syncope, or diabetes.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said non-neurological condition is at least one of asthma or COPD;

and said body signal is at least one of a blood oxygen saturation signal, a lung sounds signal, a ratio of the inspiratory slope over the expiratory slope, a chest wall motion signal, an abdominal wall motion signal; and

said mucous membrane is a nasal mucous membrane, an oral mucous membrane or a lung mucous membrane.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said therapy is a medicament selected from a bronchodilator, an anti-inflammatory drug, or oxygen, and wherein said medicament is absorbable or inhalable.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said body signal is a signal indicative of a concentration of a therapeutic medication in a body fluid;

said condition is said concentration of said therapeutic medication being below a first concentration; and

said therapy is a supplemental dosage of said therapeutic medication sufficient to raise said blood concentration of said therapeutic medication above said first concentration.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said body signal is a signal indicative of a concentration of a therapeutic medication in a body fluid;

said condition is said concentration of said therapeutic medication being above a second concentration; and

said therapy comprises at least one of reducing the dose of said therapeutic medication, reducing the rate of delivery of said therapeutic medication, or delaying the delivery of said therapeutic medication.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein administering said therapy comprises delivering a medication in at least one of an aerosol formulation, a gas formulation, a liquid formulation, or a controlled release gel formulation.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining at least one therapy for said condition;

and wherein said administering is of said at least one determined therapy.

17. A medical device system, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sense at least one body signal from a patient;

a detection unit configured to receive at least one body signal from said sensor and detect a condition based on at least said body signal, wherein said condition is epilepsy; and

a therapy device configured to receive an indication of a detected condition from said detection unit and administer a therapy to at least one of a mucous membrane or a serous membrane of said patient.

18. The medical device system of claim 17, wherein said sensor is configured to receive at least one of a cardiac signal, a respiration signal, a body movement signal, a skin resistance signal, a responsiveness signal, or an awareness signal.

19. The medical device system of claim 17 wherein said therapy device is configured for permanent attachment to an anatomical structure in proximity to at least one of said mucous membrane or said serous membrane.

20. The medical device system of claim 17, wherein said therapy device is configured for non-implantable coupling to an anatomical structure in proximity to at least one of said mucous membrane or said serous membrane.

21. The medical device system of claim 17, wherein said therapy is a medication, and said therapy device is configured to administer an aerosol formulation of said therapy, a gas formulation of said therapy, a liquid formulation of said therapy, or a controlled release gel formulation of said therapy.

22. The medical device system of claim 17, wherein said therapy device is configured to administer said therapy to a mucous membrane of the nose of said patient, and said therapy device is further configured to deliver an electrical stimulation therapy to a cranial nerve of said patient.

23. The medical device system of claim 17, wherein said therapy device comprises a nozzle to deliver a therapy to said mucous membrane.

24. The medical device system of claim 17, further comprising:

a membrane therapy unit configured to determine at least one therapy for said condition, and wherein said therapy unit is configured to administer said at least one therapy determined by said membrane therapy unit.

25. The medical device system of claim 17, further comprising a logging device configured to log one or more of the condition detected, the date and time of detection, the severity of the condition, the type(s) of therapy(ies) delivered, the site(s) of delivery of the therapy(ies), the dose of the therapy(ies), the level of efficacy of the therapy(ies), the level of tolerance of the therapy(ies), and the presence or absence of adverse effects of the therapy(ies).

26. A computer-readable storage device for storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method, comprising:

detecting a condition requiring a therapy, based on at least one body signal sensed from a patient; and

delivering a therapy to at least one of a mucous membrane or a serous membrane of said patient.

27. The computer-readable storage device of claim 26, wherein said condition is a neurological condition selected from the group consisting of epilepsy, migraine, headaches, and movement disorders.

28. The computer-readable storage device of claim 27, wherein said neurological condition is epilepsy, and said method further comprises delivering an electrical stimulation therapy to a cranial nerve of said patient.