Non-invasive treatment of bronchial constriction

• US 9,555,260 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2016
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• 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:
  US15/145,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20160243375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 273 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 non-invasively reducing a blood pressure, the method comprising:

contacting an outer skin surface of a neck of a patient with a tip extending from a housing, wherein the housing houses a vibrator and a battery, wherein the vibrator is configured to vibrate the tip, wherein the battery is configured to power the vibrator;

vibrating the vibrator at a frequency from about 15 Hz to about 50 Hz based on the battery;

non-invasively applying a vibration via the tip to the outer skin surface based on the vibrating.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outer skin surface overlies a carotid sinus area of the patient.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

positioning a stationary surround to limit a spread of the vibration across the outer skin surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the tip is detachable.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tip includes a rounded edge.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tip is L-shaped.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-invasively applying comprises rotating the tip about a point of skin-tip contact during the non-invasively applying.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-invasively applying comprises rotating the housing such that the tip rotates about a point of skin-tip contact during the non-invasively applying.