Methods and devices for activating brown adipose tissue using electrical energy
First Claim
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1. A medical method, comprising:
- assessing a patient to locate a depot of brown adipose tissue and then attaching at least one electrode to an area of the patient proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue of the patient;
generating an electrical signal;
supplying the generated electrical signal to the at least one electrode; and
delivering, via the at least one electrode, the electrical signal to the patient, thereby activating the brown adipose tissue and increasing energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, wherein the delivering includes continuously delivering the electrical signal to the patient for at least one day.
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Abstract
Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue (BAT). Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided that activates BAT by electrically stimulating nerves that activate the BAT and/or electrically stimulating brown adipocytes directly, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss through energy expenditure.
150 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A medical method, comprising:
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assessing a patient to locate a depot of brown adipose tissue and then attaching at least one electrode to an area of the patient proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue of the patient; generating an electrical signal; supplying the generated electrical signal to the at least one electrode; and delivering, via the at least one electrode, the electrical signal to the patient, thereby activating the brown adipose tissue and increasing energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, wherein the delivering includes continuously delivering the electrical signal to the patient for at least one day. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A medical method, comprising:
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assessing a patient to locate a depot of brown adipose tissue and then positioning a device proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue of the patient such that an electrode of the device is proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue, the device having an active state in which the device is continuously delivering an electrical signal via the electrode and an inactive state in which the device is not delivering the electrical signal; and switching the device positioned proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue from the inactive state to the active state, thereby causing electrical stimulation of the brown adipose tissue wherein the device is switched to remain in the active state for a predetermined amount of time, the predetermined amount of time being in a range of one day to four weeks. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A medical method, comprising:
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assessing a patient to locate a depot of brown adipose tissue and then attaching a device to the patient proximate to the depot of brown adipose tissue of the patient, the attaching including positioning at least a stimulating portion of the device within the patient; and activating the device to deliver an electrical signal to the patient from the stimulating portion of the device located within the patient, thereby activating the brown adipose tissue and increasing energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, wherein the electrical signal is continuously delivered to the patient for an amount of time in a range of one day to four weeks. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification