Method and system for blocking nerve conduction
First Claim
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1. A method of modulating an immune or inflammatory response or process in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
- delivering an electrical blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block in at least a portion of a sensory nerve of the subject with an implanted neural stimulation device positioned in the vicinity of the sensory nerve; and
repeating delivery of the electrical blocking stimulus in a cyclical application pattern for a duration or period sufficient to modulate the immune or inflammatory response or process in a region of the body of the subject innervated by the sensory nerve.
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Abstract
Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by cyclical blocking of conduction in peripheral neural structures with electrical blocking stimuli are disclosed. In an aspect, neural activity is blocked cyclically with an electrical blocking stimulus source implanted adjacent a nerve. In an aspect, a conduction block is produced in a sensory nerve. Neural modulation may be used, for example, to modulate an immune or inflammatory response or process.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of modulating an immune or inflammatory response or process in a subject in need thereof, comprising:
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delivering an electrical blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block in at least a portion of a sensory nerve of the subject with an implanted neural stimulation device positioned in the vicinity of the sensory nerve; and repeating delivery of the electrical blocking stimulus in a cyclical application pattern for a duration or period sufficient to modulate the immune or inflammatory response or process in a region of the body of the subject innervated by the sensory nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A neural modulation system, comprising:
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at least one implantable neural stimulation device adapted to be implanted into the body of a subject at a position adjacent a sensory nerve of the subject; a package adapted for placement outside of the body of the subject; a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of the body of the subject; a signal processing portion within the package and including circuitry configured to; distinguish a first activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject from a second activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject based on the signal received at the signal input structure; and generate a blocking stimulus control signal for driving production of an electrical blocking stimulus by the at least one implantable neural stimulation device to reversibly block conduction in the sensory nerve during at least a portion of the first activity state in a cyclical application pattern in response to at least one of the first activity state and the second activity state; and a transmitter within the package, configured to wirelessly transmit the blocking stimulus control signal to the at least one implantable neural stimulation device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An article of manufacture, comprising:
one or more non-transitory machine-readable data storage media bearing one or more instructions relating to; delivering an electrical blocking stimulus sufficient to produce a reversible conduction block in at least a portion of a sensory nerve of a subject with an implanted neural stimulation device positioned adjacent the sensory nerve; and repeating delivery of the electrical blocking stimulus in a cyclical application pattern for a duration or period that is expected or determined to produce a desired effect. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
Specification