Monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions via sensory neural inputs to the spinal cord
AssigneeUniversity of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
InventorsDouglas Weber, Robert Gaunt, Timothy Bruns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for monitoring and regulating physiological states and functions are disclosed. Several embodiments include application of one or more microelectrode arrays to a dorsal root ganglion for measurement of sensory neuron activity, or stimulation of sensory reflex circuits. The methods and apparatuses can be used, for example, for monitoring or controlling bladder function in a patient.
Claims31
A method of monitoring a physiological state of an organ or a tissue in a patient, comprising contacting at least one dorsal root ganglion in the patient with a microarray, wherein the microarray comprises a plurality of individual electrodes, the method further comprising a calibration phase and a monitoring phase, wherein:
- (A) the calibration phase comprises:
- measuring sensory neuron activity with the individual electrodes;
- and
- correlating the sensory neuron activity measured with the individual electrodes in the array with the physiological state of the organ or the tissue in the patient to identify individual electrodes in the array that measure the sensory neuron activity associated with the physiological state;
- and
- (B) the monitoring phase comprises:
- measuring the sensory neuron activity associated with the physiological state with the identified individual electrodes;
- and
- outputting an indication of the physiological state of the organ or the tissue to an effector, a user interface, a computer readable storage medium, and/or a local or remote computer system, to monitor the physiological state of the organ or the tissue in the patient.
A method of inducing a physiological function of an organ or a tissue in a patient, comprising contacting at least one dorsal root ganglion in the patient with a microarray, wherein the array comprises a plurality of individual electrodes, and further comprising a calibration phase and an inducement phase, wherein:
- (A) the calibration phase comprises:
- stimulating sensory neuron activity with the individual electrodes to activate sensory neurons and/or a sensory reflex circuit that induces the physiological function of the organ or the tissue;
- measuring activation of the physiological function of the organ or the tissue;
- and
- correlating activation of the physiological function with the stimulated sensory neuron activity to identify individual electrodes that can activate the sensory neurons and/or the sensory reflex circuit that induces the physiological function;
- and
- (B) the inducement phase comprises:
- activating the sensory neurons and/or sensory reflex circuit by stimulating the sensory neurons with the identified individual electrodes to induce the physiological function of the organ or tissue in the patient.
An apparatus for monitoring the physiological state of an organ or a tissue in a patient, comprising:
- a microelectrode array for implanting or close coupling to a surface of at least one dorsal root ganglion of the patient, wherein the array comprises a plurality of individual electrodes;
- a circuit for assessing sensory neuron activity measured through the individual electrodes of the array;
- a circuit for calculating the physiological state of the organ from the sensory neuron activity;
- a mechanism for alerting the patient of the physiological state of the organ or the tissue or for storing the physiological state for reference;
- and
- a mechanism for regulating a neurostimulator, drug pump or other effector using feedback signals from the organ or tissue;
- and
- optionally comprising a mechanism for the patient to select the function to be controlled.
An apparatus for inducing a physiological function of an organ or a tissue in a patient, comprising:
- a microelectrode array for implanting or close coupling to a surface of at least one dorsal root ganglion of the patient, wherein the array comprises a plurality of individual electrodes;
- and
- a stimulator operably connected to the microelectrode array, wherein the stimulator is adapted to provide an electrical stimulus to the individual electrodes to activate the sensory circuits;
- and
- optionally comprising a mechanism for the patient to select the function to be controlled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.