# US 9,433,775 B2 · Method, device and system for modulating an activity of brown adipose tissue in a vertebrate subject > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,775 B2 - Document ID: US9433775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/199,581 - Filed: 2011-09-01 - Published: 2012-11-15 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-09 - Assignees: Gearbox, LLC - Applicants: Edward S. Boyden; Roderick A. Hyde; Muriel Y. Ishikawa; Edward K. Y. Jung; Eric C. Leuthardt; Stephen L. Malaska; Elizabeth A. Sweeney; Lowell L. Wood, Jr. - Inventors: Edward S. Boyden; Roderick A. Hyde; Muriel Y. Ishikawa; Edward K. Y. Jung; Eric C. Leuthardt; Stephen L. Malaska; Elizabeth A. Sweeney; Lowell L. Wood, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433775B2 ## CPC - A61F 7/12: Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities - A61F 7/007: {characterised by electric heating} - A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling - A61N 1/0534: {Electrodes for deep brain stimulation} - A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system} - A61N 1/36053: {adapted for vagal stimulation (A61N1/36114 takes precedence)} - A61N 2/002: {in combination with another treatment} - A61N 2/004: {specially adapted for a specific therapy} - A61N 5/025: {Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment} - A61N 7/00: Ultrasound therapy (lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 {; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092}) - A61F 7/106: {self-cooling, e.g. using a chemical reaction} - A61F 2007/0002: {Head or parts thereof} - A61F 2007/0011: {Neck only} - A61F 2007/0056: {for cooling} - A61F 2007/0075: {using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled} - A61F 2007/009: {with a varying magnetic field acting upon the human body, e.g. an implant therein} - A61F 2007/0093: {programmed} - A61F 2007/0226: {adhesive, self-sticking} - A61F 2007/0233: {connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments (A61F2007/023 takes precedence)} - A61F 2007/029: {Fat cell removal or destruction by non-ablative heat treatment} - A61F 2007/101: {for cooling organs in the body before or during surgery} - A61F 2007/126: {for invasive application, e.g. for introducing into blood vessels} - A61N 5/04: Radiators for near-field treatment - A61N 2007/0008: {Destruction of fat cells} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - 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 Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein for treatment of a disease, disorder, or condition in a vertebrate subject. A device is provided that includes one or more cooling elements configured to be applied to one or more tissues of a vertebrate subject to modulate at least one activity of brown adipose tissue of the vertebrate subject, wherein at least a portion of the one or more cooling elements is configured to be implantable, and a programmable controller configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information regarding one or more physiological conditions of the vertebrate subject. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: one or more cooling elements configured to be applied to one or more tissues of a vertebrate subject to modulate at least one activity of brown adipose tissue of the vertebrate subject, wherein at least a portion of the one or more cooling elements is configured to be implantable; and a programmable controller operably coupled to the one or more cooling elements and configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information regarding at least one of a number of calories ingested by the vertebrate subject or a type and quantity of food ingested by the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors operably connected to the programmable controller, wherein the programmable controller is configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information received from the one or more sensors regarding one or more analytes in the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the one or more analytes in the vertebrate subject includes a plasma level of the one or more analytes in the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the information regarding the one or more analytes in the vertebrate subject includes a level of one or more of a metabolic analyte, a sugar, a lipoprotein, or a fatty acid in the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a digital processing unit operably connected to the programmable controller, the digital processing unit configured to receive information from at least one of a sensor, a timekeeping device, a user interface, or an outside operating source, and configured to process the information into at least one resulting instruction and configured to provide the at least one resulting instruction to the programmable controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information regarding at least one of an analyte or heat generated by thermogenic activity of the brown adipose tissue. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to accept or send information from or to one or more of a timekeeping device or a user interface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the programmable controller is configured to accept user input. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The device of claim 8, wherein the user input includes time input, time of day, period of time, start time, stop time, or length of time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7, wherein the timekeeping device is internal to the programmable controller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of circuitry and data storage. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes programming. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the programmable controller includes programming designed to induce weight loss. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the programmable controller includes programming designed to treat a disorder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to be associated with clothing of the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to be implanted in the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device of claim 16, wherein the programmable controller is configured to be located within at least one lumen of the vertebrate subject during use. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more cooling elements are configured to be located within at least one lumen of the vertebrate subject during use. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the one or more cooling elements is configured to be located within at least one circulatory vessel of the vertebrate subject during use. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The device of claim 18, wherein the one or more cooling elements is configured to be located within a colon or a large intestine of the vertebrate subject during use. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein modulating the at least one activity of the brown adipose tissue includes increasing metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue or increasing proliferation of brown adipose tissue in the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The device of claim 21, wherein modulating the at least one activity of the brown adipose tissue includes inducing non-shivering thermogenesis in the brown adipose tissue. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tissues include thermoresponsive tissue of the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tissues include nervous tissue of the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tissues include cutaneous tissue of the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tissues include brown adipose tissue. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tissues include tissue in a core of a body of the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more tissues includes one or more blood vessels or lymph vessels. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more cooling elements include one or more electrical cooling elements. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29, wherein the one or more cooling elements include one or more Peltier cooling elements. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The device of claim 29, wherein the one or more cooling elements include one or more heat pumps. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The device of claim 31, wherein the one or more heat pumps transfer heat to one or more tissues including blood or skin of the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 33 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more cooling elements include one or more implantable deep tissue heat-extracting components in combination with one or more surface tissue heat-releasing components. ### Claim 34 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more cooling elements include one or more chemical cooling elements. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more cooling elements include endothermal chemical reactants. ### Claim 36 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more implantable cooling elements are configured to attain a tissue temperature from approximately 4° C. to approximately 36° C. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more implantable cooling elements are configured to attain a tissue temperature from approximately 12° C. to approximately 20° C. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more implantable cooling elements are configured to attain a tissue temperature from approximately 24° C. to approximately 32° C. ### Claim 39 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more implantable cooling elements are configured to attain a tissue temperature approximately 16° C. or lower. ### Claim 40 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the programmable controller is configured to be incorporated with bedding, furniture, or upholstery. ### Claim 41 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a power source configured to power the device. ### Claim 42 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a neurostimulator configured to be applied to the one or more tissues. ### Claim 43 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a neurostimulator configured to be applied to one or more second tissues of the vertebrate subject other than the one or more tissues. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The device of claim 43, wherein the one or more second tissues include nerve tissue. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The device of claim 43, wherein the neurostimulator includes at least one of electric neurostimulator, magnetic neurostimulator, ultrasonic neurostimulator, or microwave neurostimulator. ### Claim 46 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising an applicator configured to deliver a therapeutic medicament. ### Claim 47 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless receiver operably coupled to the programmable controller and in communication with an outside operating source, the wireless receiver configured to receive information from the outside operating source regarding the at least one of the number of calories ingested by the vertebrate subject or the type and the quantity of food ingested by the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 48 A system for controllable cooling comprising: a cooling device including one or more cooling elements configured to be applied to one or more tissues of a vertebrate subject to modulate at least one activity of brown adipose tissue of the vertebrate subject, wherein at least a portion of the one or more cooling elements is configured to be implantable; and a programmable controller operably coupled to the one or more cooling elements and configured to provide instructions to the one or more cooling elements in response to information regarding at least one of a number of calories ingested by the vertebrate subject or a type and quantity of food ingested by the vertebrate subject; and a user interface configured to transmit to the programmable controller of the cooling device the information regarding the at least one of the number of calories ingested by the vertebrate subject or the type and the quantity of food ingested by the vertebrate subject. ### Claim 49 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, wherein the user interface includes a wearable device. ### Claim 50 (depends on 48) The system of claim 48, wherein the user interface includes a personal computing device.