Techniques for treating neurodegenerative disorders by infusion of nerve growth factors into the brain
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a neurodegenerative disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a discharge portion and having a proximal end coupled to said pump, said method comprising the steps of:
- implanting said pump outside a brain subject to nerve degeneration;
surgically implanting said catheter so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in said brain;
operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of one or more nerve growth factors through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site; and
periodically refreshing the supply of said one or more nerve growth factors to said pump outside said brain, whereby further neurodegeneration is prevented and said neurodegenerative disorder is therapeutically treated.
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Abstract
Techniques for infusing nerve growth factors into the brain to treat neurodegenerative disorders by means of an implantable pump and catheter. A sensor is used to detect an attribute of the nervous system which reflects the degeneration of the nerve cells. A microprocessor algorithm analyzes the output from the sensor in order to regulate the amount of growth factor delivered to the brain.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of treating a neurodegenerative disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a discharge portion and having a proximal end coupled to said pump, said method comprising the steps of:
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implanting said pump outside a brain subject to nerve degeneration; surgically implanting said catheter so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in said brain; operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of one or more nerve growth factors through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site; and periodically refreshing the supply of said one or more nerve growth factors to said pump outside said brain, whereby further neurodegeneration is prevented and said neurodegenerative disorder is therapeutically treated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22)
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13. A system for treating a neurodegenerative disorder resulting in degenerating neurons forming part of a nervous system comprising in combination:
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a pump implanted outside a brain subject to nerve degeneration; a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing into a predetermined infusion site in said brain a therapeutic dosage of one or more nerve growth factors; a sensor for generating a signal related to an attribute of said nervous system which indicates the degeneration of said degenerating neurons or the degeneration of neurons related to said degenerating neurons; and control means responsive to said sensor signal for regulating said therapeutic dosage. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23)
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Specification