Systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to tissue

• US 8,880,175 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2013
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stice, Paula J
• Application Number:
  US13/937,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 607/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension

Abstract

Systems and devices for selectively applying electrical energy to a target region beneath a skin surface of a patient involve applying an electrical impulse to one or more electrodes on a skin surface of the patient to modulate one or more nerves at the target region, where the impulse is substantially blocked at nerves located between the target region and the skin surface such that only the nerves at the target region are modulated by the electrical impulse.

Claims

1. A method for treating hypotension comprising:

contacting an activating device to a first outer skin surface of a patient;

contacting a deactivating device to a second outer skin surface of the patient;

applying a first electrical impulse with a first frequency to the activating device such that the first electrical impulse modulates at least one target nerve in a selected first region of a carotid sheath of the patient in need of relief from hypotension, such that increased blood pressure is achieved; and

applying a second electrical impulse with a second frequency different than the first frequency to the deactivating device such that the second electrical impulse substantially blocks the first electrical impulse from modulating nerves in a second region between the outer skin surface and the selected first region of the carotid sheath.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein increased blood pressure is achieved by at least one of improving myocardium performance and controlling vasoconstriction.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein second electrical impulse deactivates one or more nerves located between the outer skin surface and the selected first region of the carotid sheath.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating device and the deactivating device are a same device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first outer skin surface and second outer skin surface are adjacent locations at the outer skin surface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first outer skin surface and second outer skin surface are a same general location at the outer skin surface.

7. A method for treating bronchoconstriction comprising:

contacting an activating device to a first outer skin surface of a patient;

contacting a deactivating device to a second outer skin surface of the patient;

applying a first electrical impulse with a first frequency to the activating

device such that the first electrical impulse modulates at least one target nerve in a selected first region of the carotid sheath of the patient in need of relief from bronchial smooth muscle constriction wherein the magnitude of constriction is reduced; and

applying a second electrical impulse with a second frequency different than the first frequency to the deactivating device such that the second electrical impulse substantially blocks the first electrical impulse from modulating nerves in a

second region between the outer skin surface and the selected first region of the carotid sheath.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second electrical impulse deactivates one or more nerves located between the outer skin surface and the selected first region of the carotid sheath.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the activating device and the deactivating device are a same device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first outer skin surface and second outer skin surface are adjacent locations at the outer skin surface.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the first outer skin surface and second outer skin surface are a same general location at the outer skin surface.