METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ACTIVATING BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE WITH LIGHT

• US 20140088487A1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson), The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Harris, Jason L., Kaplan, Lee M., Plescia, David N., Aronhalt, Taylor W., Voegele, James W., Stylopoulos, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 10,441,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/201 Glucose concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) with light. Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss and/or improved metabolic function. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided that activates BAT by using light to stimulate nerves that activate the BAT and/or to stimulate brown adipocytes directly, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss and/or improved metabolic function through energy expenditure. The light can be configured to directly or indirectly stimulate the nerves and/or the brown adipocytes. The light can be configured to indirectly stimulate the nerves and/or the brown adipocytes by activating a light activatable medium administered to a patient and configured to respond to the light to cause activation of the brown adipose tissue.

Claims

1. A medical method, comprising:

positioning a device in contact with tissue of a patient proximate to a depot of brown adipose tissue; and

activating the device to deliver light energy to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has a wavelength in an infrared range of about 0.7 to 1000 μ

m.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has a wavelength in an ultraviolet range of about 0.01 to 0.4 μ

m.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering a light activatable medium to the depot of brown adipose tissue, the light activatable medium being configured to respond to the light energy when the light energy is delivered to the patient, the response of the light activatable medium causing activation of the brown adipose tissue.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein delivering the light activatable medium to the depot of brown adipose tissue comprises alternating at least once between delivering the light activatable medium to the patient during a first period of time and not delivering the light activatable medium to the patient during a second period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising targeting the light energy to a nerve innervating the brown adipose tissue to activate the brown adipose tissue.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the depot of brown adipose tissue is in a supraclavicular region of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the device in contact with tissue of the patient comprises transcutaneously applying the device to an exterior skin surface of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the device in contact with tissue of the patient comprises subcutaneously positioning at least a portion of the device within the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy is continuously delivered to the patient for a predetermined amount of time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

removing the device from the patient;

repositioning the device in contact with tissue of the patient proximate to another depot of brown adipose tissue; and

activating the device to deliver additional light energy to the patient to activate the other depot of brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the other depot of brown adipose tissue.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the depot of brown adipose tissue is in a supraclavicular region on one of a left and right side of a sagittal plane of the patient, and the other depot of brown adipose tissue is in a supraclavicular region on the other of the left and right side of the sagittal plane of the patient.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing and repositioning the device to be in contact with the patient after the light energy has been delivered to the depot of brown adipose tissue for a threshold amount of time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the threshold amount of time is at least seven days.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising, in response to a trigger event, removing the device from contact with tissue of the patient and repositioning the device to be in contact with another area of tissue of the patient proximate to another depot of brown adipose tissue, wherein the trigger event includes at least one of the patient eating, the patient resting, a threshold temperature of the patient, a directional orientation of the patient, a change in the patient'"'"'s weight, a change in the patient'"'"'s tissue impedance, manual activation by the patient or other human, a blood chemistry change in the patient, and a signal from a controller in electronic communication with the device.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising

stopping application of the light energy;

waiting a predetermined amount of time; and

activating the device to deliver additional light energy to the patient to activate the depot of brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the brown adipose tissue is activated and energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue is increased without any pharmaceutical administered to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue.

18. A medical method, comprising:

positioning a device in contact with tissue of a patient proximate to a first depot of brown adipose tissue;

activating the device to deliver first light energy to the patient to activate the first depot and increase energy expenditure of the first depot;

delivering the first light energy to the patient until a first threshold event occurs;

when the first threshold event occurs, stopping delivery of the first light energy to the patient;

delivering second light energy to the patient to activate a second depot of brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the second depot;

delivering the second light energy to the patient until a second threshold event occurs; and

when the second threshold event occurs, stopping delivery of the second light energy.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising, before delivering the second light energy to the patient, repositioning the device to be in contact with tissue of the patient proximate to the second depot and using the device to deliver the second light energy to the patient.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising positioning a second device in contact with tissue of the patient proximate to the second depot and using the second device to deliver the second light energy to the patient.