Electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve chain

• US 7,778,704 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Original Assignee: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Inventors: Rezai, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman; Mark W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bertram; Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US10/495,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20050065562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,855 Days
• Field of Search: 607/9, 607/22
• US Class Current: 607/9
• 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 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of affecting physiological disorders by stimulating a specific location along the sympathetic nerve chain. Preferably, the present invention provides a method of affecting a variety of physiological disorders or pathological conditions by placing an electrode adjacent to or in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain and stimulating the at least one ganglion until the physiological disorder or pathological condition has been affected.

Claims

1. A method of treating heart disease in a patient comprising:

placing an electrode on at least one T-2 to T-4 ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient;

applying an electric signal to the electrode on the at least one ganglion; and

adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal based on at least one sensed parameter associated with the heart disease of the patient until the heart disease has been treated, wherein the heart disease is selected from the group consisting of heart failure, angina and hypertension, wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal until the heart disease has been affected comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal to mimic the effect of beta blockers.

2. A method of treating heart disease in a patient comprising:

placing an electrode on at least one T-2 to T-4 ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient;

applying an electric signal to the electrode on the at least one ganglion; and

adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal based on at least one sensed parameter associated with the heart disease of the patient until the heart disease has been treated, wherein the heart disease is selected from the group consisting of heart failure, angina and hypertension, wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal until the heart disease has been affected comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal to release tissue plasminogen activator.

3. A method of treating heart disease in a patient comprising:

placing an electrode on at least one T-2 to T-4 ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient;

applying an electric signal to the electrode on the at least one ganglion; and

adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal based on at least one sensed parameter associated with the heart disease of the patient until the heart disease has been treated, wherein the heart disease is selected from the group consisting of heart failure, angina and hypertension, wherein adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal until the heart disease has been affected comprises adjusting at least one parameter of the electric signal to modulate angiotensin.

4. A method of establishing or complementing a pattern in a patient'"'"'s neuro-endocrinological system in order to treat heart disease comprising:

placing an electrode in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient, said at least one ganglion being associated with the patient'"'"'s endocrinological system; and

applying an electric signal to the electrode to stimulate the at least one ganglion to thereby establish or complement a pattern in the patient'"'"'s endocrinological system,

wherein the step of applying the electric signal results in an up-regulation of a receptor of an endogenous chemical associated with the patient'"'"'s endocrinological system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one ganglion is selected from the group consisting of T-1 through T-4 ganglia, cervical ganglia, and combinations thereof

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising administering an amount of a pharmaceutical agent to the patient to complement the pattern established in the patient'"'"'s endocrinological system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying the electric signal results in an up-regulation of a receptor of the pharmaceutical agent.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the an up-regulation of the receptor of the pharmaceutical agent occurs during periods of rest to thereby complement the increased release of neuro-hormones during periods of patient activity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the up-regulation of the receptor of an endogenous chemical occurs during periods of rest to thereby complement the increased release of neuro-hormones during periods of patient activity.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from the group consisting of an ACE inhibitor and a beta blocker.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the amount of the pharmaceutical agent is determined based upon the effectiveness of the electrical stimulation of the at least one ganglion.

12. A method for complementing or establishing a pattern in a neuro-endocrinological system in a patient in need thereof comprising:

placing one or more electrodes in communication with at least one ganglion along the sympathetic nerve chain of the patient;

supplying an electric signal to the one or more electrodes to stimulate at least one ganglion to complement or establish a pattern in the patient'"'"'s neuro-endocrinological system;

monitoring levels of endogenous chemicals in the patient; and

adjusting, based on the monitoring, the application of the electric signal to the one or more electrodes to modulate levels of the endogenous chemicals in the patient.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling delivery of a therapeutically active compound to the patient based on the levels of endogenous chemicals released.