Techniques for treating neurodegenerative disorders by infusion of nerve growth factors into the brain
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsDennis D. Elsberry, Mark T. Rise
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Abstract
Techniques for infusing nerve growth factors into the brain to treat neurodegenerative disorders by means of an implantable pump and catheter. A sensor is used to detect an attribute of the nervous system which reflects the degeneration of the nerve cells. A microprocessor algorithm analyzes the output from the sensor in order to regulate the amount of growth factor delivered to the brain.
Claims23
A method of treating a neurodegenerative disorder by means of an implantable pump and a catheter having a discharge portion and having a proximal end coupled to said pump, said method comprising the steps of:
- implanting said pump outside a brain subject to nerve degeneration;
- surgically implanting said catheter so that said discharge portion lies adjacent a predetermined infusion site in said brain;
- operating said pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of one or more nerve growth factors through said discharge portion of said catheter into said infusion site;
- and
- periodically refreshing the supply of said one or more nerve growth factors to said pump outside said brain, whereby further neurodegeneration is prevented and said neurodegenerative disorder is therapeutically treated.
A system for treating a neurodegenerative disorder resulting in degenerating neurons forming part of a nervous system comprising in combination:
- a pump implanted outside a brain subject to nerve degeneration;
- a catheter having a proximal end coupled to said pump and a discharge portion for infusing into a predetermined infusion site in said brain a therapeutic dosage of one or more nerve growth factors;
- a sensor for generating a signal related to an attribute of said nervous system which indicates the degeneration of said degenerating neurons or the degeneration of neurons related to said degenerating neurons;
- and
- control means responsive to said sensor signal for regulating said therapeutic dosage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.