Neuromodulation to modulate glymphatic clearance
AssigneesWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
InventorsJustin Williams, Kip Ludwig, Erika Ross
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides materials and methods for using electrical stimulation to treat a mammal having a proteinopathy (e.g., neurodegenerative diseases) or at risk of developing a proteinopathy are provided. For example, the present invention provides materials and methods for modulating glymphatic clearance (e.g., enhancing glymphatic clearance) of pathogenic proteins.
Claims14
A method for treating a human having a proteinopathy by inducing glymphatic clearance, comprising:
- implanting at a single location a tubular stent supporting at least one electrode within a blood vessel of the human having the proteinopathy wherein the tubular stent includes a tube of insulation material permitting blood to flow therethrough and surrounded by the at least one electrode positioned on an exterior of the tube;
- and
- administering electrical stimulation comprised of electrical pulses to the at least one electrode of the tubular stent at a predetermined temporal pattern operable to direct current outward toward the inner walls of the blood vessel to attract oppositely charged local proteins to the at least one electrode of the tubular stent and create an osmotic gradient to clear the proteins by para-venous efflux and increase glymphatic clearance characterized by increased cerebrospinal fluid flow from the perivascular space into the parenchyma.
A method for treating a human having a proteinopathy by inducing glymphatic clearance, comprising:
- implanting a tubular stent supporting at least one electrode within a blood vessel of the human having the proteinopathy wherein the tubular stent includes a tube of insulation material permitting blood to flow therethrough and surrounded by the at least one electrode positioned on an exterior of the tube to direct current outward toward a lumen of the blood vessel;
- and
- administering electrical stimulation comprised of electrical pulses to the at least one electrode at a predetermined temporal pattern operable to direct current outward toward the inner walls of the blood vessel to draw oppositely charged local proteins to the at least one electrode and to increase glymphatic clearance characterized by increased cerebrospinal fluid flow from the perivascular space into the parenchyma;
- wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered to the at least one electrode by an electric current generator and the electrical stimulation comprises at least one of monophasic pulses, symmetrical biphasic pulses, and asymmetrical biphasic pulses;
- wherein the electrical stimulation is delivered to the at least one electrode by an electric current generator and the electrical stimulation comprises intermittent biphasic pulses on top of a direct current (DC);
- wherein the electrical stimulation provides a constant current, is charge balanced, and is cathodic leading;
- wherein a charge density of the electrical stimulation is less than or equal to 50 microcoulomb/square centimeter to prevent unwanted electrochemical reactions.
A method for treating a human having a proteinopathy by inducing glymphatic clearance, comprising:
- implanting at a single location a tubular stent supporting at least one electrode within a blood vessel of the human having the proteinopathy wherein the tubular stent includes a tube of insulation material permitting blood to flow therethrough and surrounded by the at least one electrode positioned on an exterior of the;
- and
- administering electrical stimulation comprised of electrical pulses to the at least one electrode of the tubular stent at a predetermined temporal pattern to direct current outward toward the inner walls of the blood vessel to attract oppositely charged local proteins to the at least one electrode of the tubular stent to create an osmotic gradient to clear the proteins by para-venous efflux and enhance convective clearance of misfolded proteins from the perivascular space into the parenchyma.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.