Methods and devices for activating brown adipose tissue using electrical energy
First Claim
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1. A medical method, comprising:
- positioning a device in contact with tissue of a patient proximate to a depot of brown adipose tissue; and
activating the device to deliver an electrical signal to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, the electrical signal having a modulating signal and a carrier signal, wherein the electrical signal is continuously delivered to the patient for a predetermined amount of time in a range of one day to four weeks.
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided that activates BAT by electrically stimulating nerves that activate the BAT and/or electrically stimulating brown adipocytes directly, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss through energy expenditure.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A medical method, comprising:
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positioning a device in contact with tissue of a patient proximate to a depot of brown adipose tissue; and activating the device to deliver an electrical signal to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, the electrical signal having a modulating signal and a carrier signal, wherein the electrical signal is continuously delivered to the patient for a predetermined amount of time in a range of one day to four weeks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A medical method, comprising:
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positioning a device in contact with tissue of a patient proximate to a depot of brown adipose tissue in a supraclavicular region of the patient; and activating the device to deliver an electrical signal to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, the electrical signal having a modulating signal and a carrier signal and being continuously delivered to the patient for at least four weeks. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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37. A medical method, comprising:
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attaching a device tissue of a patient such that the device is in a fixed position relative to the tissue over a depot of brown adipose tissue and such that the device is located at least partially outside the patient; activating the device located at least partially outside the patient and over the depot of brown adipose tissue to deliver an electrical signal to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue underlying the device and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, the electrical signal having a modulating signal and a carrier signal; after the activating, removing the device from the patient; repositioning the device in contact with tissue of the patient over another depot of brown adipose tissue; and delivering another electrical signal to the patient to activate the other depot of brown adipose tissue underlying the repositioned device and increase energy expenditure of the other depot of brown adipose tissue.
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Specification