Apparatus and methods for feedback-based nerve modulation

• US 9,550,064 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Man & Science S.A.
• Original Assignee: Adi Mashiach
• Inventors: Mashiach, Adi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tejani, Ankit D
• Application Number:
  US14/992,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4519 Muscles A61B5/389, A61B5/224 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/682 Mouth, e.g., oral cavity; tongue; Lips; Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6876 Blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 Intra-oral devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0514 Electrodes for the urinary tract
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0526 Head electrodes A61N1/0551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0529 Electrodes for brain stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0553 Paddle shaped electrodes, e.g. for laminotomy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3601 : of respiratory organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 : Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 : adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 : adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 : Headache or migraine
• 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 1/36125 : Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36135 : using physiological parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36139 : with automatic adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36146 : specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 : Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 : Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 : Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 : Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 : Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 : characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 : Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 : from an external energy source
• 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: F04C 2270/0421 : Controlled or regulated

Abstract

A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured to communicate with a circuit implanted in the subject within proximity to a tongue of the subject, wherein the circuit is in electrical communication with at least one electrode, receive a physiological signal from the subject via the circuit, and send a control signal to the implanted circuit in response to the physiological signal, wherein the control signal is predetermined to activate neuromuscular tissue within the tongue.

Claims

1. A hypertension therapy device, comprising:

a first antenna configured to communicate with a second antenna implanted in a body of a subject within proximity to at least one of a renal nerve, a baroreceptor, and a glossopharyngeal nerve;

a feedback circuit configured to communicate with the first antenna;

at least one processor configured to;

apply a sub-modulation control signal to the first antenna, the sub-modulation control signal inducing a secondary signal at the second antenna, the secondary signal in turn inducing a coupled signal at the first antenna;

receive, from the feedback circuit, the coupled signal generated at the first antenna;

determine a degree of coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on the coupled signal received from the feedback circuit; and

adjust a control signal sent to a circuit associated with the second antenna based on the degree of coupling, the control signal being configured to modulate the at least one of the renal nerve, the baroreceptor, and the glossopharyngeal nerve.

2. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate and send the control signal to the circuit within a response time between 1 millisecond and 10 minutes.

3. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is located external to the subject and is configured to send the control signal to the circuit implanted in the body of the subject from outside of the subject.

4. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein at least one processor is configured to receive a physiological signal from the circuit through the second antenna and the first antenna, the physiological signal including at least one aspect indicative of blood pressure of the subject.

5. The hypertension therapy device of claim 4, wherein blood pressure is detected via a blood pressure sensor.

6. The hypertension therapy device of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a signal, indicative of the blood pressure, from a sensor remote from the circuit implanted in the body of the subject.

7. The hypertension therapy device of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a degree of the blood pressure based on the physiological signal and vary a power level associated with the control signal based on the determined degree of the blood pressure.

8. The hypertension therapy device of claim 4, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a degree of the blood pressure based on the physiological signal and vary a duration of the control signal based on the determined degree of the blood pressure.

9. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to perform at least one function chosen from the group consisting of stimulating the baroreceptor, down modulating the renal nerve, and stimulating the glossopharyngeal nerve.

10. The hypertension therapy device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the control signal to the circuit implanted in the body of the subject to modulate nerve tissue to affect blood pressure.

11. A method for treating hypertension, comprising:

applying a sub-modulation control signal to a first antenna configured to communicate with a second antenna implanted in a body of a subject within proximity to at least one of a renal nerve, a baroreceptor, and a glossopharyngeal nerve, the sub-modulation control signal inducing a secondary signal at the second antenna, the secondary signal in turn inducing a coupled signal at the first antenna;

receiving, from a feedback circuit configured to communicate with the first antenna, the coupled signal generated at the first antenna;

determining a degree of coupling between the first antenna and the second antenna based on the coupled signal received from the feedback circuit; and

adjusting a control signal sent to a circuit associated with the second antenna based on the degree of coupling, the control signal being configured to modulate the at least one of the renal nerve, the baroreceptor, and the glossopharyngeal nerve.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating and sending the control signal to the circuit within a response time between 1 millisecond and 10 minutes.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending, through the first antenna located external to the subject, the control signal to the circuit implanted in the body of the subject from outside of the subject.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a physiological signal from the circuit through the second antenna and the first antenna, the physiological signal including at least one aspect indicative of blood pressure of the subject.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting the blood pressure via a blood pressure sensor.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a signal, indicative of the blood pressure, from a sensor remote from the circuit implanted in the body of the subject.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a degree of the blood pressure based on the physiological signal; and

varying a power level associated with the control signal based on the determined degree of the blood pressure.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a degree of the blood pressure based on the physiological signal; and

varying a duration of the control signal based on the determined degree of the blood pressure.

19. The method of claim 11,

wherein the control signal is configured to perform at least one function chosen from the group consisting of stimulating the baroreceptor, down modulating the renal nerve, and stimulating the glossopharyngeal nerve.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending the control signal to the circuit implanted in the body of the subject to modulate nerve tissue to affect blood pressure.