Method of treating facial blushing by electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve chain

• US 6,356,787 B1
• Filed: 02/24/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electrocore Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Electrocore Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Rezai, Ali R., Zonenshayn, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/511,841
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 607/1, 607/2, 607/45, 607/48, 607/63, 607/72
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02

Abstract

A method for treating excessive facial blushing by applying an oscillating electric field to the stellate ganglion. The method includes the steps of inserting an electrode into the vacinity of the sympathetic ganglion, for example the stellate ganglion, such that the necessary electric field may be applied to the ganglion. The necessary field oscillation frequency and strength, as well as other characteristics of the signal are determined individually for each patient. Continued driving of the pathological activity of the ganglion into the normal function is the long-term, reversible palatative remedy for the condition.

Claims

1. A method of interventionally and reversibly treating excessive blushing conditions comprising:

positioning at least one electrode, having distal and proximal termini, such that the distal terminus is in the vicinity of the sympathetic chain;

coupling the proximal terminus of the at least one electrode to an electrical signal source;

applying an oscillating electric field to the sympathetic chain until the symptoms of the excessive blushing condition have been demonstrably alleviated; and

continuing the application of the oscillating electric field.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vacinity of the sympathetic chain is adjacent to the stellate ganglion.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode is a multipolar electrode and the application of the oscillating electric field is multipolar.