Devices and methods for low current neural modulation

• US 10,828,492 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2018
• Issued: 11/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Original Assignee: Nyxoah SA
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi
• Primary Examiner(s): Piateski, Erin M
• Application Number:
  US15/874,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20180207424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 607134
• 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

A device may include an implantable circuit and at least one pair of implantable electrodes, in electrical communication with the implantable circuit. The circuit and the electrodes may configured for implantation in a subject in the vicinity of a nerve. The circuit may be configured to deliver to the electrodes an electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps, and the electrodes may be configured to emit an electric field such that a portion of the field lines extend along a length of the nerve such that the delivery of the electrical signal of less than about 1.6 milliamps causes modulation of the nerve.

Claims

1. A hypertension therapy device for affecting blood pressure, comprising:

an implantable circuit;

at least one pair of implantable electrodes, electrically connected with the implantable circuit, wherein the circuit and the electrodes are configured for implantation in a subject in a blood vessel in the vicinity of a glossopharyngeal nerve; and

wherein the circuit is configured to deliver to the electrodes an electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps, and

wherein the electrodes are configured to emit an electric field such that a portion of the field lines extend along a length of the nerve such that the delivery of the electrical signal of less than about 1.6 milliamps causes modulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

2. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the circuit is configured to deliver a plurality of electrical signals to the electrodes, and wherein each of the plurality of electrical signals has a current less than about 1.6 milliamps.

3. The hypertension therapy device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of electrical signals include various voltage levels, current levels, or durations.

4. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the implantable circuit is configured to receive energy from a source external to the subject.

5. The hypertension therapy device of claim 4, wherein the implantable circuit is configured to deliver to the electrodes, via the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps, a substantial portion of the energy received from the source external to the subject within about 1 second or less of receiving the energy.

6. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the implantable circuit is in electrical communication with an implantable antenna for transmitting or receiving electrical signals.

7. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps has a current less than about 1 milliamp.

8. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamp has a current less than about 0.8 milliamps.

9. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamp has a current less than about 0.6 milliamps.

10. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamp has a current less than about 0.4 milliamps.

11. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamp has a current less than about 0.2 milliamps.

12. A method for affecting blood pressure, comprising:

delivering, by an implantable circuit, an electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps to at least one pair of implantable electrodes electrically connected with the implantable circuit, wherein the circuit and the electrodes are configured for implantation in a subject in a blood vessel in the vicinity of a glossopharyngeal nerve;

emitting, by the electrodes, an electric field such that a portion of the field lines extend along a length of the nerve such that the delivery of the electrical signal of less than about 1.6 milliamps causes modulation of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

delivering, by the implantable circuit, a plurality of electrical signals to the electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of electrical signals has a current less than about 1.6 milliamps.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrical signals include various voltage levels, current levels, or durations.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving, by the implantable circuit, energy from a source external to a subject.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the implantable circuit is configured to deliver to the electrodes, via the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps, a substantial portion of the energy received from the source external to the subject within about 1 second or less of receiving the energy.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the implantable circuit is in electrical communication with an implantable antenna for transmitting or receiving electrical signals.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamps has a current less than about 1 milliamp.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamp has a current less than about 0.8 milliamps.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the electrical signal having a current less than about 1.6 milliamp has a current less than about 0.6 milliamps.