Nerve stimulation techniques

• US 8,571,653 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: BioControl Medical (B.C.M) Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben-David, Tamir, Cohen, Ehud, Gross, Yossi, Ayal, Shai
• Primary Examiner(s): Koharski, Christopher D
• Assistant Examiner(s): VOORHEES, CATHERINE M
• Application Number:
  US13/022,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/9
• US Class Current: 607/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362

Abstract

A method is provided for treating heart failure in a subject in need of such treatment, including applying a stimulating current to parasympathetic nervous tissue of the subject, selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve and an epicardial fat pad. The stimulating current is configured to inhibit release of at least one proinflammatory cytokine sufficiently to the treat heart failure of the subject. A level of the at least one proinflammatory cytokine is measured. Optionally, the stimulating current is configured to change a level of Connexin 43 of the subject, and the level of Connexin 43 is also measured. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method for treating heart failure in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising:

applying a stimulating current to parasympathetic nervous tissue of the subject, selected from the group consisting of;

a vagus nerve and an epicardial fat pad;

configuring the stimulating current to inhibit release of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta sufficiently to the treat heart failure of the subject; and

measuring a level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the stimulating current to inhibit the release of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta and to change a level of Connexin 43 of the subject, and wherein measuring comprises measuring the level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta and the level of Connexin 43.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heart failure is selected from the group consisting of:

heart failure, congestive heart failure, and diastolic heart failure.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein applying the stimulating current comprises applying the stimulating current during a period having a duration of at least one week.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein measuring the level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta comprises measuring a level of mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta.