Method for electrical modulation of neural conduction

• US 8,195,287 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2008
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soovu Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Dacey, Ralph G. Jr., Della Rocca, Gregory J., Derdeyn, Colin P., Dowling, Joshua L., Goodall, Eleanor V., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Smith, Michael A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H., Zipfel, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US12/070,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20090149912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/117, 607/118
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0556 Cuff electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36189 using modulation techniques
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36535 controlled by body position or posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36542 controlled by body motion, e.g. acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue

Abstract

Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by repetitively blocking conduction in peripheral neural structures with electrical stimuli are disclosed. Methods and systems for reversing effects of blocking stimuli and/or for producing substantially permanent conduction block are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of modulating neural activity comprising the steps of:

producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state;

reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral nerve of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral nerve when the subject is in a higher activity state; and

repeating the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral nerve of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral nerve when the subject is in a higher activity state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the overall activity of the subject is lower in the low activity state than in the higher activity state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a use of a body portion innervated by the peripheral nerve by the subject is lower in the low activity state than in the higher activity state.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject includes producing a reversible conduction block in a sensory-motor nerve of a subject.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject includes producing a reversible conduction block in an autonomic nerve of a subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject includes producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject includes producing a reversible conduction block in at least one of a radial nerve, a median nerve, an ulnar nerve, a femoral nerve, an obturator nerve, a sciatic nerve, a popliteal nerve, a tibial nerve, a peroneal nerve, or a vagus nerve of a subject.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an input indicative of an activity state of the subject, wherein the input is indicative of at least one of a low activity state and a higher activity state of the subject.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving an input indicative of an activity state of the subject includes receiving an input representing physiological activity of the subject.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving an input representing physiological activity of the subject includes receiving an input representing at least one of heart rate, respiration, brain activity, peripheral neural activity, muscle activity, or body temperature of the subject.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving an input indicative of an activity state of the subject includes receiving an input representative of physical activity of the subject.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving an input representative of physical activity of the subject includes receiving an input representative of at least one of motion, body position, or posture of the subject.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein receiving an input indicative of an activity state of the subject includes receiving an input representing rest or waking state of the subject.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving an input representative of physical activity of the subject includes receiving an input from at least one of a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an accelerometer, a gyro, a switch, or a piezoelectric device.

15. The method of claim 1, including receiving an input indicative of a user instruction.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an input indicative of a user instruction includes receiving a signal from a user input device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving a signal from a user input device includes receiving a signal from at least one of a sound-activated input device, a user-activated switch, a pointing device, a touch screen, or a keyboard.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an input indicative of a user instruction includes receiving an input from a user-controlled intermediate device.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving an input indicative of a user instruction includes receiving an input indicative of an instruction to modify at least one of the definition of the low activity state or the definition of the higher activity state.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state includes producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject with a blocking stimulus source worn on the body of the subject.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state includes producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a blocking stimulus source located in or on at least one of a wrap adapted to be positioned around at least a portion of the body of the subject, a bracelet configured to be worn on a limb of the subject, an anklet configured to be worn on a limb of the subject, a cuff configured to be worn on a limb of the subject, a collar configured to be worn on a neck of the subject, or a necklace configured to be worn on a neck of the subject.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state includes producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject with a blocking stimulus source configured to be positioned beneath at least a portion of the body of the subject.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state includes producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with a blocking stimulus source located in or on at least one of a chair, a bed, a pad or a cushion.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state includes producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject with a blocking stimulus source implanted within the body of the subject.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein producing a reversible conduction block includes applying an electrical field to at least a portion of the peripheral nerve.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein producing a reversible conduction block includes applying at least one of a pulsed electrical field, an oscillating electrical field, a cyclical electrical field, a periodic electrical field, or a time-varying electrical field to at least a portion of the peripheral nerve.

27. The method of claim 1, including reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral nerve of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral nerve when the subject is in a higher activity state by removing a blocking stimulus used to produce the reversible conduction block in the peripheral nerve of the subject.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral nerve of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral nerve of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral nerve when the subject is in a higher activity state occur over a period of time sufficient to produce a modulation of at least one of an immune response or an inflammatory response in a region innervated by the peripheral nerve.

29. The method of claim 1, including at least one of storing information regarding an activity state of the subject, storing information regarding producing the reversible conduction block, transmitting information regarding an activity state of the subject, or transmitting information regarding producing the reversible conduction block.

30. A method of modulating neural activity comprising the steps of:

producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state;

reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in a higher activity state by applying a reversing stimulus configured to counter the blocking stimulus used to produce the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject; and

repeating the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject while the subject is in a low activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in a higher activity state.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein applying a reversing stimulus to counter the blocking stimulus used to produce the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject includes applying an electric field to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein applying a reversing stimulus to counter the blocking stimulus used to produce the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject includes applying at least one of a pulsed electric field, a cyclical electric field, or a time-varying electric field to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein applying a reversing stimulus to counter the blocking stimulus used to produce the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject includes applying at least one of a magnetic field, a pulsed magnetic field, or electromagnetic energy to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein applying a reversing stimulus to counter the blocking stimulus used to produce the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject includes at least one of heating or cooling at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure.

35. A method of modulating neural activity comprising the steps of:

producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state;

reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in a higher activity state;

repeating the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in a higher activity state;

determining that producing the reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state results in a desired effect in the subject; and

producing a non-reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

36. The method of claim 35, including:

producing a non-reversible conduction block by applying heat to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

37. The method of claim 35, including:

producing a non-reversible conduction block by removing heat from at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein producing a non-reversible conduction block includes producing substantially complete blockage of conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

39. The method of claim 35, including:

producing a non-reversible conduction block by at least one of applying an electrical current to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject, delivering acoustic energy to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject, delivering photons to at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject, delivering a chemical agent to least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject, or surgical transection of at least a portion of the peripheral neural structure of the subject.

40. A method of modulating neural activity comprising the steps of:

producing a reversible conduction block of a subset of nerve fibers in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state;

reversing the reversible conduction block of the subset of nerve fibers in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the subset of nerve fibers in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in higher activity state; and

repeating the steps of producing a reversible conduction block in the subset of nerve fibers in a peripheral neural structure of a subject with an electrical field while the subject is in a low activity state and reversing the reversible conduction block in the subset of nerve fibers in the peripheral neural structure of the subject to permit conduction in the subset of nerve fibers in the peripheral neural structure when the subject is in a higher activity state.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the subset of nerve fibers in the peripheral neural structure of the subject includes at least one of nerve fibers within a selected diameter range, nerve fibers within a selected spatial distribution within the peripheral neural structure, nerve fibers within selected fascicles within the peripheral neural structure, or nerve fibers including a selected molecular feature.