Hypertension therapy implant apparatus

• US 9,248,291 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Man & Science S.A.
• Original Assignee: Adi Mashiach
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell, Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES
• Application Number:
  US14/522,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20150112402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 607/44, 607/116, 607/152
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• 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 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0514 Electrodes for the urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 : adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 : adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 : Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3611 : Respiration control stimulating respiratory organs A61N1/3601
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 : for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 : using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 : Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 : Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 : Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 : Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 : characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 : using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

An implant unit according to some embodiments may include a flexible carrier, at least one pair of modulation electrodes on the flexible carrier, and at least one implantable circuit in electrical communication with the at least one pair of modulation electrodes. The at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one circuit may be configured for implantation through derma on an underside of a subject'"'"'s chin and for location proximate to terminal fibers of the medial branch of the subject'"'"'s hypoglossal nerve, such that an electric field extending from the at least one pair of modulation electrodes can modulate one or more of the terminal fibers of the medial branch of the hypoglossal nerve.

Claims

1. A hypertension therapy implant unit for affecting blood pressure, the implant unit comprising:

a flexible carrier;

at least one pair of modulation electrodes on the flexible carrier; and

at least one implantable circuit in electrical communication with the at least one pair of modulation electrodes, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one circuit are configured for intravascular implantation in a subject in a location proximal to at least one of a carotid baroreceptor or a glossopharyngeal nerve,

wherein the implantable circuit and the at least one pair of modulation electrodes are configured to cooperate to generate an electric field to cause modulation of at least a portion of the at least one of the carotid baroreceptor or the glossopharyngeal nerve.

2. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one implantable circuit are configured for implantation in a jugular vein proximal to the glossopharyngeal nerve of the subject.

3. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one implantable circuit are configured for implantation in a jugular vein proximal to the carotid baroreceptor of the subject.

4. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one implantable circuit are configured for implantation in a carotid artery proximal to the carotid baroreceptor of the subject.

5. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one implantable circuit are configured for implantation in a carotid artery proximal to the glossopharyngeal nerve of the subject.

6. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes are configured to be spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of at least a portion of the at least one of the carotid baroreceptor or the glossopharyngeal nerve.

7. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 1, wherein the implantable circuit and the at least one pair of modulation electrodes are configured to cooperate to generate an electric field to cause modulation of the at least a portion of the at least one of the carotid baroreceptor or the glossopharyngeal nerve through intervening tissue.

8. A hypertension therapy implant unit for affecting blood pressure, the implant unit comprising:

a flexible carrier;

at least one pair of modulation electrodes on the flexible carrier;

an antenna on the flexible carrier; and

at least one implantable circuit in electrical communication with the at least one pair of modulation electrodes, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one circuit are configured for intravascular implantation in a subject in a location proximal to a renal nerve,

wherein the implantable circuit is configured to electromagnetically couple with the antenna; and

wherein the implantable circuit and the at least one pair of modulation electrodes are configured to cooperate to generate an electric field to cause modulation of at least a portion of the renal nerve based on a degree of coupling between the implantable circuit and the antenna.

9. The hypertension therapy implant unit of claim 8, wherein the at least one pair of modulation electrodes and the at least one implantable circuit are configured for implantation in the renal nerve that is proximal to a renal artery of the subject.