Therapeutic method for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

• US 5,846,220 A
• Filed: 04/30/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Elsberry, Dennis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Application Number:
  US08/641,450
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/48, 604/49, 604/51, 604/93, 128/898
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0057 Catheters delivering medicament other than through a conventional lumen, e.g. porous walls or hydrogel coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0069 Tip not integral with tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease is disclosed. The method comprises delivering indomethacin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action directly to the hippocampus or the lateral ventricle through an implanted catheter. The catheter has a flexible distal end that is implanted directly in the hippocampus or lateral ventricle as the preferred embodiment. The distal end has either a porous tip or a closed end. Where the distal end is closed, or a plurality of elution holes are present indomethacin is delivered to the hippocampus or lateral ventricle through either the porous tip or the elution holes. The catheter is part of a system for delivering indomethacin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action to the hippocampus or lateral ventricle that includes a pump coupled to the catheter for delivering the indomethacin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action through the catheter to the hippocampus or lateral ventricle.

Claims

1. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s hippocampus;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of indomethacin;

infusing indomethacin through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s hippocampus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of implanting includes the steps of:

introducing a trocar into the patient'"'"'s hippocampus;

passing the catheter through the trocar so that the distal end of the catheter leaves the trocar and enters the hippocampus;

removing the trocar leaving the catheter in place.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of implanting includes the step of:

introducing a catheter containing a stylet through a selected lobe to the patient'"'"'s hippocampus;

removing the stylet leaving the catheter in place.

4. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of indomethacin;

infusing indomethacin through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of implanting the distal end of a catheter includes the step of anteriorally accessing the lateral ventricle through the frontal lobe.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of implanting includes the steps of:

introducing a trocar into the patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle;

passing the catheter through the trocar so that the distal end of the catheter leaves the trocar and enters the lateral ventricle;

removing the trocar leaving the catheter in place.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of implanting includes the step of:

introducing a catheter containing a stylet through a selected lobe to the patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle;

removing the stylet leaving the catheter in place.

8. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s hippocampus or lateral ventricle, wherein the patient'"'"'s hippocampus or lateral ventricle is accessed through a posterior occipital lobe;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of indomethacin;

infusing indomethacin through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s hippocampus or lateral ventricle.

9. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s hippocampus or lateral ventricle, wherein the patient'"'"'s hippocampus or lateral ventricle is accessed posteriorally through the occipital lobe;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of indomethacin;

infusing indomethacin through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s hippocampus or lateral ventricle.

10. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting, through a posterior occipital lobe, the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s hippocampus;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of indomethacin;

infusing indomethacin through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s hippocampus.

11. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting, posteriorally through the occipital lobe, the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of indomethacin;

infusing indomethacin through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle.

12. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s hippocampus;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action;

infusing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s hippocampus.

13. A method of treating Alzheimer'"'"'s disease comprising the steps of:

implanting the distal end of a catheter having a distal end and a proximal end in a patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle;

attaching the proximal end of the catheter to a source of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action;

infusing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents having cyclooxygenase inhibitor action through the catheter to exit the distal end of the catheter in the patient'"'"'s lateral ventricle.