METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING INFLAMMATION BY NEUROMODULATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG

• US 20160096016A1
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Feinstein Institutes For Medical Research
• Original Assignee: Kevin J. Tracey, Mauricio Rosas-Ballina, Mike A Faltys
• Inventors: TRACEY, Kevin J., FALTYS, Michael A., ZITNIK, Ralph J., ROSAS-BALLINA, Mauricio
• Granted Patent: US 9,662,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

Described herein are devices, systems and method of treating inflammation by vagus nerve stimulation and the delivery of an anti-inflammatory drug. In particular, described herein are methods of treating inflammation including the steps of stimulating a subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response and administering an anti-inflammatory drug.

Claims

1. A method of treating an inflammatory response, the method comprising:

stimulating a subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex to inhibit the inflammatory response by stimulating the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve, wherein the stimulation is selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and mechanical stimulation of the vagus nerve, wherein the step of stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex is repeated at regular intervals of at least about 4 hours; and

administering an anti-inflammatory drug.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex comprises electrically stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering the anti-inflammatory drug comprises systemic administration of the anti-inflammatory drug.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of administering the anti-inflammatory drug comprises administering the anti-inflammatory drug before stimulating the inflammatory reflex.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of stimulating the inflammatory reflex comprises repeatedly and periodically stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-inflammatory drug is a TNF blocker or an IL-6 inhibitor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the inflammatory response is due to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn'"'"'s disease.

8. A method of treating an inflammatory response, the method comprising:

stimulating a subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex to inhibit the inflammatory response by stimulating the subject'"'"'s vagus nerve, wherein the stimulation is selected from the group consisting of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve and mechanical stimulation of the vagus nerve, wherein the step of stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex is repeated at regular intervals of at least about 4 hours; and

administering a drug that suppresses immune function by blocking one or more immune mediators.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the immune mediator is selected from the group consisting of TNF, IL-6, IL-6 receptor, janus-activated kinase, spleen-associated kinase, CD20, B-cell activating factor, B lymphocyte stimulator, CD25, IL-2R, IL-1, α

4-integrin, CD52, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulator, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived

     2)-like 2 pathway activator, α

₄β

₇ integrin, IL-23, and IL-17.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex comprises electrically stimulating the subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex to inhibit the immune response.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of administering the drug comprises systemic administration of the drug.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the inflammatory response is due to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn'"'"'s disease.