Stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion for treating depression

• US 20070142875A1
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alon Shalev, Yossi Gross
• Original Assignee: Alon Shalev, Yossi Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi, Shalev, Alon
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/45
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0546 Nasal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/10 for treating ischaemic or atherosclerotic diseases, e.g. antianginal drugs, coronary vasodilators, drugs for myocardial infarction, retinopathy, cerebrovascula insufficiency, renal arteriosclerosis

Abstract

Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes (7), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) (6) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit (8) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.

Claims

1-4. -4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

8-10. -10. (canceled)

12-35. -35. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

39-41. -41. (canceled)

43-72. -72. (canceled)

73. Apparatus comprising:

one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to a site selected from the group of sites consisting of;

a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of a patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and

a stimulator, configured to;

drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site, and

configure the current to activate the site sufficiently to treat depression of the patient by inducing a change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the patient.

5. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted for a period of implantation in the patient greater than about one month.

7. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the stimulator is configured to drive the one or more electrodes by wireless communication from a position external to the patient.

11. Apparatus according to claim 79, wherein the stimulator is configured to be implanted through a nasal cavity of the patient.

74. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the stimulator is configured to configure the current to induce an increase in the CBF.

75. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the stimulator is configured to configure the current to induce vasodilation of middle cerebral and anterior cerebral lumens of the patient.

76. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the stimulator is configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current on a long-term basis.

77. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the site includes the SPG, wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted to be applied to the SPG, and wherein the stimulator is configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current to the SPG.

78. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the site includes the neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG, wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted to be applied to the neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG, and wherein the stimulator is configured to drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current to the neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG.

79. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the stimulator is configured to be implanted in a body of the patient.

80. Apparatus according to claim 73, wherein the stimulator comprises circuitry, which comprises:

an implantable unit, configured to be implanted in a body of the patient, the implantable unit comprising an implantable unit coupler; and

an external unit, comprising an external unit coupler configured to be wirelessly coupled to the implantable unit coupler, the external unit configured to convey a control signal from the external unit coupler to the implantable unit coupler, which signal drives the implantable unit to drive the electrodes to apply the current to the site.

81. Apparatus comprising:

one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to a site selected from the group of sites consisting of;

a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of a patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and

a stimulator, configured to;

drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site, and

configure the current to activate the site sufficiently to treat anxiety of the patient by inducing a change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the patient.

82. A method comprising:

identifying that a patient suffers from depression;

selecting a site from the group of sites consisting of;

a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and

treating the depression by applying a current to the site, and configuring the current to activate the site to induce a change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the patient.

36. A method according to claim 82, wherein selecting the site comprises implanting an electrode at the site, designated to remain in the patient for a period greater than about one month.

38. A method according to claim 82, wherein selecting the site comprises placing an electrode at the site, and wherein applying the current comprises implanting an implanted unit, and communicating with the implanted unit by wireless communication from a position external to the patient.

42. A method according to claim 82, wherein applying the current comprises implanting a stimulator through a nasal cavity of the patient.

83. A method according to claim 82, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to induce an increase in the CBF.

84. A method according to claim 82, wherein configuring the current comprises configuring the current to induce vasodilation of middle cerebral and anterior cerebral lumens of the patient.

85. A method according to claim 82, wherein treating the depression comprises treating the depression on a long-term basis.

86. A method according to claim 82, wherein selecting the site comprises selecting the SPG.

87. A method according to claim 82, wherein selecting the site comprises selecting the neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG.

88. A method comprising:

identifying that a patient suffers from anxiety;

selecting a site from the group of sites consisting of;

a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and

treating the anxiety by applying a current to the site, and configuring the current to activate the site to induce a change in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the patient.