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US 7,120,497 B2Granted
Smooth muscle controller
AssigneeMetacure Limited
InventorsShlomo Ben-Haim, Nissim Darvish, Yuval Mika, Maier Fenster, Bella Felzen, Isaac Shemer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle, comprising selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion and applying a non-excitatory electrical field to the portion, which field reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.
Claims35
Apparatus for controlling at least the local activity of a portion of an in vivo smooth muscle, comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes, adapted to be in contact with a portion of smooth muscle to be controlled;
- a controller which electrifies said electrodes with a signal comprising at least an electrical field which does not generate a propagating action potential in said smooth muscle, which electrical field modifies the reaction of said smooth muscle to an activation signal;
- and
- an electrical activity sensor which detects electrical activity at the portion, wherein said controller electrifies said electrodes responsive to signals from said sensor.
1 more element
An implantable apparatus for controlling, for therapeutic purposes, at least the local activity of a portion of an in vivo smooth muscle, comprising:
- a plurality of electrodes, adapted to be in contact with a portion of smooth muscle to be controlled;
- and
- a controller which electrifies said electrodes with a signal comprising at least an electrical field which does not generate a propagating action potential in said smooth muscle, which electrical field modifies the reaction of said smooth muscle to an activation signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.