Non-invasive treatment of bronchial constriction

• US 9,327,118 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Original Assignee: Electrocore, Llc
• Inventors: Simon, Bruce J., Errico, Joseph P., Raffle, John T., Mendez, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US14/337,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20140336721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/123 Linear drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1609 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/004 With mechanical drive, e.g. spring mechanism or vibrating unit being hit for starting vibration and then applied to the body of a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 31/00 Artificial respiration or heart stimulation, e.g. heart massage artificial respiration by treatment with gas or air, e.g. mouth-to-mouth respiration A61M16/00; applying electric currents by contact electrodes for stimulation, e.g. heart pace-makers A61N1/36 ; teaching or training models, demonstration models for medical purposes G09B23/288
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36114 Cardiac control, e.g. by vagal stimulation stimulating the heart A61N1/362
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• 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 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 : comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0026 : Stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 : for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 : Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• 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

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating bronchial constriction related to asthma, anaphylaxis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The treatment comprises transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers that are responsible for smooth muscle dilation. The transmitted energy impulses, comprising magnetic and/or electrical, mechanical and/or acoustic, and optical and/or thermal energy, stimulate the selected nerve fibers.

Claims

1. A method of treating a disease or a disorder in a patient, the method comprising:

positioning one or more energy transmitters within a container comprising an electrically conducting fluid such that the one or more energy transmitters is at least partially surrounded by and in contact with the electrically conductive fluid, wherein the container is coupled to a power source, wherein the container and the power source are housed in a housing, wherein the housing comprises a surface;

positioning the surface of the housing against an outer skin surface of a neck of a patient; and

applying sufficient energy to the one or more energy transmitters via the power source to generate one or more electrical impulses at or near a vagus nerve of the patient, wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to stimulate an activity of the vagus nerve to treat the disease or the disorder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more energy transmitters comprises a magnetic coil and the sufficient energy comprises a magnetic field.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive fluid is an electrically conductive gel.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive fluid contains ferromagnetic particles.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the electrically conductive fluid is a combination of at least a magnetorheological fluid and a ferrofluid.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the magnetic coil comprises a toroid.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more energy transmitters comprises an electrode and the sufficient energy comprises an electric current.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises a pulsed-on time from about 50 to about 500 microseconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical impulses is sufficient to stimulate an afferent fiber of the vagus nerve.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the disease or the disorder comprises bronchoconstriction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises a frequency from about 1 to about 3000 Hz.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises a frequency from about 15 to about 50 Hz.

14. A device for treating a disease or a disorder of a patient, the device comprising:

a housing;

a power source housed within the housing;

a container housed within the housing, wherein the container comprises an interior and one or more energy transmitters positioned within the interior, wherein the container is coupled to the power source, wherein the interior is at least partially filled with an electrically conductive fluid, wherein the one or more energy transmitters is at least partially surrounded by and in contact with the electrically conductive fluid; and

wherein the power source supplies energy to the one or more energy transmitters and the energy is sufficient to generate one or more electrical impulses at a vagus nerve of the patient sufficient to treat the disease or the disorder.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more energy transmitters comprises a magnetic coil and the energy comprises a magnetic field.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the electrically conductive fluid contains ferromagnetic particles.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the electrically conductive fluid comprises a magnetorheological fluid.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the electrically conductive fluid is a combination of at least a magnetorheological fluid and a ferrofluid.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic coil comprises a toroid.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more energy transmitters comprises an electrode and the energy comprises an electric current.

21. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises a pulsed-on time from about 50 to about 500 microseconds.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the disease or the disorder comprises bronchoconstriction.

23. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises a frequency from about 1 to about 3000 Hz.

24. The device of claim 14, wherein the one or more electrical impulses comprises a frequency from about 15 to about 35 Hz.