TREATMENT OF BLEEDING BY NON-INVASIVE STIMULATION

• US 20180021217A1
• Filed: 09/26/2017
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Feinstein Institutes For Medical Research
• Original Assignee: Carol Ann Amella, Christopher Czura, Howland Shaw Warren, Kevin J. Tracey, Michael Allen Faltys
• Inventors: TRACEY, Kevin J., WARREN, Howland Shaw, FALTYS, Michael Allen, AMELLA, Carol Ann, CZURA, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 10,912,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/50 Control means thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5025 Activation means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/065 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• 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 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/007 Stimulation by mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for stimulating (e.g., noninvasively) a subject'"'"'s inflammatory reflex are provided to reduce bleed time. The method may include the step of non-invasively stimulating the inflammatory reflex (e.g., the vagus nerve, the splenic nerve, the hepatic nerve, the facial nerve, and the trigeminal nerve) of a subject, such as by mechanical stimulation, in a manner which significantly reduces bleed time in the subject. Devices for non-invasively stimulating the inflammatory reflex may include a movable tip or actuator that is controlled to mechanically stimulate the ear. The devices may be hand-held or wearable, and may stimulate the cymba conchae region of the subject'"'"'s ear.

Claims

1. A method of reducing bleed time in a subject, the method comprising:

non-invasively stimulating a subject'"'"'s vagus nerve with an external mechanical actuator in a manner that activates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and reduces bleed time by at least 20%.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises mechanically stimulating the subject'"'"'s cymba conchae region of the ear.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating at a frequency between about 50 and 500 hertz.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating for less than 5 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating for about 1 minute.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating in a region of stimulation during a stimulation period with a temporal pattern that does not allow accommodation of mechanoreceptors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises mechanically stimulating the subject'"'"'s cymba conchae region of the ear for between about 50 and 500 hertz for about one minute.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating is applied to at least one location selected from the subject'"'"'s cymba conchae of the ear, or helix of the ear.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating is applied to at least one point along a spleen meridian.

10. A method of reducing bleed time in a subject, the method comprising:

providing a mechanical actuator; and

non-invasively stimulating with the mechanical actuator the subject'"'"'s ear to stimulate an inflammatory reflex in a manner that activates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and reduces bleed time in the subject by at least 20%.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises mechanically stimulating the subject'"'"'s cymba conchae region of the ear.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating at a frequency between about 50 and 500 hertz.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating for less than 5 minutes.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating for about 1 minute.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises stimulating in a region of stimulation during a stimulation period with a temporal pattern that does not allow accommodation of mechanoreceptors.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating comprises mechanically stimulating the subject'"'"'s cymba conchae region of the ear for between about 50 and 500 hertz for about one minute.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating is applied to at least one location selected from the subject'"'"'s cymba conchae of the ear, or helix of the ear.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of non-invasively stimulating is additionally applied to at least one point along a spleen meridian using a second mechanical actuator.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the stimulation is performed for 5 minutes or less with a displacement of the mechanical actuator of between 0.0001 to 5 mm.

20. A method of reducing bleed time in a subject, the method comprising:

providing a mechanical actuator, wherein the mechanical actuator is wearable on the subject'"'"'s ear and comprises a magnetic driver adapted to be located on one side of the ear and a magnetic element adapted to be located on the opposing side of the ear; and

non-invasively mechanically stimulating with the mechanical actuator a subject'"'"'s ear to stimulate an inflammatory reflex in a manner that activates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and reduces bleed time by at least 20 percent in the subject.