Regulation of neurotrophins
AssigneeFunctional Neuromodulation, Inc.
InventorAndres M. Lozano
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods for regulating neurotrophin levels within a human body. The invention utilizes an implantable signal generator to deliver stimulation to neural tissue elements. Alternatively, an implantable pump may be utilized to delivery one or more drugs. The implanted device delivers treatment therapy to the neural tissue to thereby alter the level of neurotrophic factors such as BDNF expressed by the influenced neural tissue. A sensor may be used to detect various symptoms of a nervous system disorder. A microprocessor algorithm may then analyze the output from the sensor to regulate the treatment therapy delivered to the body. The invention describes a novel method to regulate the intrinsic levels of neurotrophins and may be used to treat patients with neurological and cognitive disorders.
Claims28
A method for regulating the level of one or more neurotrophic factors in neural tissue of the cortex or sub-cortex to treat or alleviate a neurological disorder involving neuronal loss or damage, the method comprising:
- (A) sensing a symptom of the neurological disorder within said neural tissue of the cortex or sub-cortex, wherein said sensing detects amounts of said one or more neurotrophic factors;
- and
- (B) relaying said sensing to a signal generator to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue of a neural circuit of the limbic system selected from the group consisting of the hippocampus, the fornix, the mammillary body, the anterior thalamic nuclei, and the cingulate gyrus through an electrode to thereby increase or decrease the level of the one or more neurotrophic factors and treat or alleviate the neurological disorder.
A therapeutic treatment method for regulating the level of one or more neurotrophic factors in neural tissue of the cortex or sub-cortex to treat or alleviate a neurological disorder involving neuronal loss or damage, the method comprising:
- (A) sensing a symptom of the neurological disorder within said tissue of a neural circuit of the limbic system selected from the group consisting of the hippocampus, the fornix, the mammillary body, the anterior thalamic nuclei, and the cingulated gyrus, wherein said sensing detects amounts of said one or more neurotrophic factors;
- and
- (B) relaying said sensing to a pump to deliver at least one drug to the neural tissue of the cortex or sub-cortex through a catheter to thereby increase or decrease the level of the one or more neurotrophic factors and treat or alleviate the neurological disorder.
A method for regulating the level of one or more neurotrophic factors in neural tissue of the cortex or sub-cortex to treat or alleviate a neurological disorder involving neuronal loss or damage, the method comprising:
- (A) sensing a symptom of the neurological disorder within said tissue of the cortex or sub-cortex, wherein said sensing detects amounts of neurotrophic factors;
- (B) relaying said sensing to a signal generator to deliver electrical stimulation to the tissue of a neural circuit of the limbic system selected from the group consisting of the hippocampus, the fornix, the mammillary body, the anterior thalamic nuclei, and the cingulated gyrus through an electrode to thereby increase or decrease the level of the one or more neurotrophic factors;
- and
- (C) relaying said sensing to a pump to discharge a predetermined dosage of at least one drug through a catheter into the neural tissue of the cortex or the sub-cortex to thereby further increase or decrease the level of the one or more neurotrophic factors and treat or alleviate the neurological disorder.
- (d) Inventor Lozano did not sign the oath/declaration filed on Nov. 14, 2009, Therefore, a substitute Oath/Declaration is required to remedy this deficiency. See MPEP 602.03.
- e) Corrected drawings for FIG. 2A are required, as reproducibility may be an issue with the respective drawings submitted Jan. 14, 2009. See MPEP 608.02(V)(I).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.