Methods and apparatus for the regulation of hormone release
First Claim
1. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
- means for sensing at least one physiologic parameter of a patient, wherein said at least one physiologic parameter directly or indirectly indicates a current hormonal imbalance condition;
means for providing stimulation to a portion of neural tissue of the patient in at least one predetermined site; and
means for controlling the stimulation means to provide stimulation to one of inhibit and increase release of a hormone when the at least one physiologic parameter indicates the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said means for controlling operates to at least partially alleviate said the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for delivering corrective therapy through hormone regulation is provided. Inhibition of sympathetic fibers by spinal cord stimulation is used to regulate the levels of hormones such as catecholamines, renin, and calcitonin gene-related peptide. The invention utilizes a closed or open loop feedback system in which physiological parameters such as the concentrations of hormones and sympathetic indicators such as heart rate and urine production are monitored and used to determine the appropriate level of neurostimulation. The site of electrical stimulation includes, but is not limited to, the spinal cord at levels T7–L2 and the associated neural fibers within a region of the T7–L2 dermatomes
310 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
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means for sensing at least one physiologic parameter of a patient, wherein said at least one physiologic parameter directly or indirectly indicates a current hormonal imbalance condition; means for providing stimulation to a portion of neural tissue of the patient in at least one predetermined site; and means for controlling the stimulation means to provide stimulation to one of inhibit and increase release of a hormone when the at least one physiologic parameter indicates the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said means for controlling operates to at least partially alleviate said the hormonal imbalance condition, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin.
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2. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
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a sensor adapted to detect at least one physiologic parameter relating to a hormonal imbalance condition of a patient; at least one electrode adapted to be positionable at a region adjacent a portion of neural tissue of the patient; a controller adapted to generate electrical stimulation by the at least one electrode to be applied to the portion of neural tissue adjacent the at least one electrode to increase or inhibit release of a hormone to at least partially alleviate said hormonal imbalance condition, wherein at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation is controlled as a function of the sensed physiologic parameter, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for regulating a hormone level in a patient comprising:
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at least one electrode adapted to stimulate neural tissue in a patient'"'"'s body in at least one predetermined site to regulate a hormone level if the patient'"'"'s body via electrical stimulation therapy; at least one sensor to measure and provide information on at least one physiologic parameter related to the hormone level; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the at least one electrode to control at least one parameter of the electrical stimulation therapy based on information provided by the sensor and to increase or inhibit the release of the hormone to regulate the hormone level, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for regulating levels of one or more hormones through electrical stimulation therapy delivery, comprising:
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locating at least one electrode in a region associated with neural tissue in a patient'"'"'s body; coupling the at least one electrode to a controller; generating a sensor signal related to a desired balanced condition of a hormone of the patient; and delivering electrical stimulation therapy via the at least one electrode to increase or decrease the level of the hormone in the patient'"'"'s body to produce the desired balanced condition of the level of the hormone of the patient, and wherein said hormone is selected from the group consisting of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A device for regulating hormone levels through electrical stimulation comprising:
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at least one electrode adapted to be positioned at a region adjacent a patient'"'"'s neural tissue; a controller adapted to deliver electrical stimulation therapy via the at least one electrode to increase or inhibit release of a hormone, wherein said controller modulates said electrical stimulation therapy to achieve a desired balance of the hormone, and wherein said hormone consists of;
adrenaline, noradrenaline, and a renin. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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Specification