Method and system for reversible chemical modulation of neural activity

• US 8,630,706 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soovu Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Dacey, Ralph G. Jr., Della Rocca, Gregory J., Derdeyn, Colin P., Dowling, Joshua L., Goodall, Eleanor V., Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Smith, Michael A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Wood, Victoria Y. H., Zipfel, Gregory J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US13/385,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20120172652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/46, 607/117, 607/118
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4035 Evaluating the autonomic nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4041 Evaluating nerves condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1726 the body parameters being measured at, or proximate to, the infusion site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 : Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1003 : Spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/10 : Wearable devices, e.g. garments, glasses or masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 : Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 : by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 : using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 : adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 : of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 : specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 : controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 : Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 : Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 : Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/303 : Constructional details electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 : Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 : for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 : for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36103 : Neuro-rehabilitation; Repair or reorganisation of neural tissue, e.g. after stroke
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 : using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 : Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 : for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 : Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Methods and related systems for modulating neural activity by repetitively blocking conduction in peripheral neural structures with chemical blocking agents are disclosed. Methods and systems for reversing effects of chemical blocking agents and/or for producing substantially permanent conduction block are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A neural modulation system comprising:

a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of a subject innervated by a peripheral neural structure;

a signal processing portion configured to;

distinguish a low activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from a higher activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from the signal received at the signal input structure;

generate a chemical blocking agent control signal for driving delivery of a chemical blocking agent adapted to reversibly block conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject during at least a portion of the low activity state; and

generate a chemical reversing agent control signal for driving delivery of a chemical reversing agent to counter the chemical blocking agent used to produce a reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject;

a chemical blocking agent source configured to deliver the chemical blocking agent responsive to the chemical blocking agent control signal; and

a chemical reversing agent source configured to deliver the chemical reversing agent responsive to the chemical reversing agent control signal.

2. The neural modulation system of claim 1, wherein the chemical reversing agent source includes at least a portion of the chemical blocking agent source.

3. The neural modulation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor operatively connected to the signal input structure and configured to generate the signal indicative of the activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject responsive to activity of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure.

4. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is configured to detect muscle activity.

5. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is configured to detect neural activity.

6. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes an electrical sensor.

7. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes a magnetic sensor.

8. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes a temperature sensor.

9. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes a pressure sensor.

10. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes a force sensor.

11. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor.

12. The neural modulation system of claim 3, wherein the sensor includes a chemical sensor.

13. The neural modulation system of claim 1, wherein the signal indicative of an activity state is a signal indicative of a physical activity state, wherein the low activity state is a low physical activity state, and wherein the higher activity state is a higher physical activity state.

14. The neural modulation system of claim 13, including a sensor operatively connected to the signal input structure and configured to generate a signal indicative of the overall physical activity of the subject.

15. The neural modulation system of claim 13, including a sensor operatively connected to the signal input structure and configured to generate a signal indicative of physical activity of the portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure.

16. A neural modulation system comprising:

a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of a subject innervated by a peripheral neural structure;

a signal processing portion configured to;

distinguish a first activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from a second activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from the signal received at the signal input structure;

generate a chemical blocking agent control signal for driving delivery of a chemical blocking agent adapted to reversibly block conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject during at least a portion of the first activity state; and

generate a reversing stimulus control signal for driving delivery of energy to counter the chemical blocking agent used to produce a reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject;

a chemical blocking agent source configured to deliver the chemical blocking agent responsive to the chemical blocking agent control signal; and

a reversing stimulus source configured to delivery energy responsive to the reversing stimulus control signal.

17. The neural modulation system of claim 16, wherein the reversing stimulus source includes a heat source.

18. The neural modulation system of claim 16, wherein the reversing stimulus source includes an electric field source.

19. The neural modulation system of claim 16, wherein the reversing stimulus source includes a magnetic field source.

20. The neural modulation system of claim 16, wherein the reversing stimulus source includes an electromagnetic transducer.

21. The neural modulation system of claim 16, wherein the reversing stimulus source includes an optical photon source.

22. The neural modulation system of claim 16, wherein the reversing stimulus source includes an acoustic energy source.

23. A neural modulation system comprising:

a signal input structure configured to receive a signal indicative of an activity state of at least a portion of a body of a subject innervated by a peripheral neural structure;

a signal processing portion configured to;

distinguish a first activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from a second activity state of the at least a portion of the body of the subject innervated by the peripheral neural structure from the signal received at the signal input structure;

generate a chemical blocking agent control signal for driving delivery of a chemical blocking agent adapted to reversibly block conduction in the peripheral neural structure of the subject during at least a portion of the first activity state; and

generate a reversing stimulus control signal for driving cooling of the peripheral neural structure to counter the chemical blocking agent used to produce a reversible conduction block in the peripheral neural structure of the subject;

a chemical blocking agent source configured to deliver the chemical blocking agent responsive to the chemical blocking agent control signal; and

a cooling source configured to remove energy from the peripheral neural structure responsive to the reversing stimulus control signal.

24. The neural modulation system of claim 23, wherein the cooling source includes a Peltier device.

25. The neural modulation system of claim 23, wherein the cooling source includes a fluid heat transfer device.

26. The neural modulation system of claim 23, wherein the cooling source includes an endothermic reaction device.