# US 8,700,161 B2 · Blood glucose level control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,700,161 B2 - Document ID: US8700161B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/526,708 - Filed: 2003-09-04 - Published: 2006-04-20 - Granted: 2014-04-15 - Earliest claimed: 1999-03-05 - Assignees: Metacure Limited - Applicants: Tami Harel; Shai Policker; Radwan Khawaled; Yuval Mika; Offer Glasberg; Aharon Grossman - Inventors: Tami Harel; Shai Policker; Radwan Khawaled; Yuval Mika; Offer Glasberg; Aharon Grossman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8700161B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control} - A61N 1/0507: {Electrodes for the digestive system} - A61N 1/36121: {Production of neurotransmitters; Modulation of genes expression} - A61N 1/36178: {Burst or pulse train parameters} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A method of glucose level control, comprising providing at least one electrode adapted to apply an electric field to a pancreas; and applying an electric field to the pancreas using the above-mentioned at least one electrode such that blood glucose levels are significantly reduced and blood insulin levels are not significantly increased. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of glucose level control, comprising: providing at least one implanted electrode for applying an electric field to affect a pancreas; and reducing blood glucose levels by at least 10%, by applying an electric field to affect the pancreas using said at least one implanted electrode, while not increasing blood insulin levels by more than 20%. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising subsequently applying a second electric field to affect said pancreas, which second field increases insulin levels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to reduce glucagon secretion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to reduce glucose secretion by a liver physiologically coupled to said pancreas. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to increase glucose uptake by cells in a body containing said pancreas. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to affect nervous tissue in said pancreas. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is non-excitatory in that it does not substantially induce new bursts of islet activity in said pancreas. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied as a bi-phasic and charge balanced time varying field. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method according to claim 8, wherein said electric field is applied for a short duration every period of time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein said period of time gives an application frequency of between 1 Hz and 15 Hz. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein said period of time gives an application frequency of about 5 Hz. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein said duration is less than 30 ms. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein said duration is about 10 ms. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is repeated for a period of less than 30 minutes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is repeated for a period of between 30 and 180 minutes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied for substantially all of a duration of a glucose absorption event. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied prior to an expected ingestion event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising triggering said electric field by a ingestion event. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied irrespectively of an ingestion event. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied at least part of the time irrespective of a blood glucose level. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied continuously for at least 24 hours. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is applied for a period of at least 15 minutes without sensing of its effect. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is of a magnitude and temporal extent so that it does not significantly change blood insulin and glucose levels in the absence of an ingestion event. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field reduces blood glucose levels by at least 20% of an elevation of the glucose level above a fasting baseline glucose level. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field does not increase blood insulin levels, as measured by an average over five minutes, by more than 20%. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, comprising, delaying a gastric emptying by applying a treatment to the stomach. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to delay a glucose peak at least by a duration of its application. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to delay a glucose peak at least by 10 minutes. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said electric field is operative to delay an insulin peak at least by 10 minutes. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein said applying does not elevate insulin levels by more than 10%. ### Claim 31 A method of glucose level control, comprising: providing at least one implanted electrode adapted to apply an electric field to affect a pancreas; and reducing blood glucose levels, only if elevated, by applying an electric field to affect the pancreas, using an electric field which does not reduce such levels by more than 20% if not elevated. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, wherein said electric field reduces elevated glucose levels by at least 20%. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, wherein said electric field does not reduce unelevated glucose levels by more than 10%. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) A method according to claim 31, wherein said electric field does not impair exocrine functions of said pancreas. ### Claim 35 Apparatus for blood glucose control, comprising: at least one implanted electrode for applying an electric field to affect a pancreas, said electrode being clinically acceptable for human implantation; circuitry for electrifying said at least one implantable electrode in a manner which compensates for a loss of acute response to a glucose ingestion event by said pancreas, wherein said circuitry reduces insulin secretion or avoids an increase in insulin secretion of more than 30% during said compensation; and an implantable lead to which said electrode is electrically coupled. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said circuitry compensates by causing the secretion of an insulin bolus. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said circuitry compensates by reducing glucose levels in a non-insulin manner. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) Apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said circuitry compensates by reducing glucagon secretion. ### Claim 39 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein for at least 20% of ingestion events said circuitry applies only an acute control of insulin levels. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) Apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said apparatus is programmed with a knowledge of a slow acting chemical-based insulin therapy provided to said pancreas. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, comprising an automatic ingestion sensor for automatically detecting an ingestion event. ### Claim 42 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, comprising an automatic glucose sensor for automatically detecting a situation requiring an acute response. ### Claim 43 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, comprising an automatic glucose sensor for automatically detecting a situation requiring an acute insulin response. ### Claim 44 (depends on 35) Apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said response is an acute insulin response. ### Claim 45 Apparatus for blood glucose control, comprising: at least one implantable electrode adapted to apply an electric field to affect pancreatic tissue; and circuitry adapted to electrify said at least one implantable electrode in a manner which reduces glucose levels and does not elevate insulin levels more than 20% above a baseline value, when glucose levels are elevated. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said circuitry is a closed loop system including sensing of the effect of the electrification and wherein said circuitry is configured to over stimulate in cases of doubt. ### Claim 47 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said circuitry is a semi-open loop system where a relatively long stimulation series is applied without feedback. ### Claim 48 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said circuitry is an open loop system where a stimulation series is applied responsive to a trigger and without feedback. ### Claim 49 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said circuitry applies a constant voltage field. ### Claim 50 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said circuitry applies a constant current field. ### Claim 51 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said pancreatic tissue comprises an in-vivo pancreas. ### Claim 52 (depends on 45) Apparatus according to claim 45, wherein said pancreatic tissue comprises a pancreatic tissue implant. ### Claim 53 A method of controlling blood glucose, the method comprising: providing at least one implanted electrode located in a muscle and at least one second implanted electrode; providing a fixed protocol; and generating an electric field between said implanted electrodes to affect a pancreas in accordance with said fixed protocol, wherein said generating comprises generating irrespective of blood glucose level, including both when blood glucose levels are elevated and when blood glucose levels are not elevated. ### Claim 54 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein said fixed protocol comprises generating said electric field as a pulse series without synchronizing said pulse series to pancreatic activity. ### Claim 55 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein said fixed protocol comprises generating said electric field as a pulse series irrespectively of an ingestion event. ### Claim 56 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein pancreatic electrical activity is not measured during generating. ### Claim 57 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein said fixed protocol comprises periodic application of a pulse series. ### Claim 58 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein said electric field is repeated for a period of less than 30 minutes. ### Claim 59 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein said electric field is repeated for a period of between 30 and 180 minutes. ### Claim 60 (depends on 53) A method according to claim 53, wherein said affecting a pancreas comprises indirectly affecting a pancreas via a different organ.