SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING PULMONARY THERAPY

• US 20150202437A1
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Franke, Manfred, Clark, Bryan Allen, Flanagan, Aiden, Hincapie Ordonez, Juan Gabriel, Ternes, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36067 Movement disorders, e.g. tremor or Parkinson disease stimulating motor muscle A61N1/36003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain
• 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 1/36128 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36132 using patient feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36171 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37288 Communication to several implantable medical devices within one patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

An example of a system may include an electrode and a pulse generation system. The electrode may be configured to be implanted near a neural target that innervates airways. The pulse generation system may be configured to be operably connected to the electrode to deliver depletion block stimulation through the electrode to alleviate symptoms of pulmonary disease. The pulse generation system and the electrode may be configured to cooperate to capture axons in the neural target. The depletion block stimulation may include a series of pulses at a depletion pulse frequency.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an electrode configured to be implanted near a neural target that innervates airways; and

a pulse generation system configured to be operably connected to the electrode to deliver depletion block stimulation through the electrode to alleviate symptoms of pulmonary disease, the pulse generation system and the electrode configured to cooperate to capture axons in the neural target, the depletion block stimulation including a series of pulses at a depletion pulse frequency within a range between about 100 Hz to about 1 kHz.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrode device, the electrode device including the electrode and configured to be implanted in an airway operably proximate to the neural target.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pulse generation system includes a pulse generator, a controller and a power supply configured to cooperate to deliver the depletion block stimulation through the electrode, the electrode device including the pulse generator, the controller and the power supply.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode device includes an expandable structure configured to be expanded within the airway to contact an interior surface of the airway structure, the expandable structure including a pacing surface, the pacing surface including:

a smooth surface configured to abut against an interior surface of a wall for the airway structure;

or

a surface with protrusions configured penetrate partially into or fully through the wall for the airway structure;

or a surface with a non-penetrating surface texture.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a stimulation lead, the lead including the electrode, the lead configured to be implanted to position the electrode external to an airway proximate to the neural target.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the stimulation lead is configured to wrap at least partially around the airway to position the electrode proximate to the neural target.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the stimulation lead is configured to be advanced within the airway, configured with an end to puncture a wall of the airway, and configured to wrap at least partially around the airway to position the electrode proximate to the neural target.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to be implanted operably proximate to:

a first generation bronchi for use in stimulating a pulmonary nerve branch that traverses along the first generation bronchi;

or

a second generation bronchi for use in stimulating a pulmonary nerve branch that traverses along the second generation bronchi;

or

a third generation bronchi for use in stimulating a pulmonary nerve branch that traverses along the third generation bronchi.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electrode is configured to be implanted near a cervical vagus nerve.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a parameter correlated to increased airway resistance, the pulse generation system operably connected to the at least one sensor to detect an increase in airway resistance and configured to automatically initiate delivery of the depletion block stimulation in response to the detected increase in airway resistance.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor includes an impedance sensor configured to sense a reduction in transthoracic impedance.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor configured to sense a reduction in pleural pressure.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse generation system is configured to receive a human-initiated command, and is configured to automatically initiate delivery of the depletion block stimulation in response to the received command.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse generation system is configured to deliver a full depletion block by delivering depletion block current greater than a saturation threshold (ST) for the neural target.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse generation system is configured to deliver a partial depletion block by delivering depletion block current greater than an activation threshold (AT) for the neural target and less than a saturation threshold (ST) for the neural target.

16. A method, comprising:

delivering depletion block stimulation, using an implanted electrode, to a neural target that innervates airways, wherein delivering the depletion block stimulation includes delivering a series of electrical pulses at a depletion pulse frequency, the depletion pulse frequency being within a range between about 100 Hz to about 1 kHz.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the neural target includes a nerve proximate to an airway, and delivering the depletion block stimulation includes delivering the depletion block stimulation using an electrode implanted within the airway to stimulate the neural target, the electrode including a pacing surface, the pacing surface including:

a smooth surface configured to abut against an interior surface of a wall for the airway;

or

a surface with protrusions configured penetrate partially into or fully through the wall for the airway;

or

a surface with a non-penetrating surface texture.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the neural target includes a nerve proximate to an airway, and delivering the depletion block stimulation includes delivering the depletion block stimulation using an electrode positioned proximate to and external to the airway to stimulate the neural target.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the neural target includes a pulmonary nerve branch that traverses along a first generation bronchi or a second generation bronchi or a third generation bronchi.

20. A method, comprising:

implanting an electrode in or near an airway and proximate a neural target that innervates airways;

delivering depletion block stimulation, using the implanted electrode, to a neural target that innervates airways, wherein delivering the depletion block stimulation includes delivering a series of electrical pulses at a depletion pulse frequency, the depletion pulse frequency being within a range between about 100 Hz to about 1 kHz.