Patent classifications
A61N1/0509
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF PANCREATIC CANCER
Embodiments herein relate to medical devices and methods for using the same to treat cancerous tumors within a bodily tissue. A medical device system herein can include an electric field generating circuit configured to generate one or more electric fields, and control circuitry. The system can include one or more electrodes disposed on a first stimulation lead to deliver the electric fields to a site of a cancerous tumor within a patient and one or more electrodes disposed on a second stimulation lead to deliver the electric fields to the site of a cancerous tumor within a patient. The first and second stimulation leads can be configured to be implanted on or about a duodenum. The electric field generating circuit can generate electric fields at frequencies selected from a range of between 10 kHz to 1 MHz. Other embodiments are also included herein.
APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW IN A BODILY ORGAN
An apparatus for controlling the flow of urine in a urethra of a patient is disclosed, comprising an implantable adjustable constriction device for constricting the urethra to influence the flow in the urinary tract, a control device for controlling the constriction device, an operation device for operating the constriction device to change the constriction of the urethra, an energy source for supplying energy for the operation device, and an internal control unit connected to an internal signal transmitter. The internal control unit is arranged to receive measurements related to a current state of the energy source measured on a regular basis and arranged to transmit a control signal reflecting at least a portion of the received measurements to an external signal receiver connected to an external control unit comprised in the control unit.
SELF-RIGHTING ARTICLES
Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage (e.g., interface with, inject into, anchor) with a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject). In some cases, upon contact of the tissue with the tissue engaging surface of the article, the self-righting article may be configured to release one or more tissue interfacing components. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component is associated with a self-actuating component. For example, the self-righting article may comprise a self-actuating component configured, upon exposure to a fluid, to release the tissue interfacing component from the self-righting article. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component may comprise and/or be associated with the pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery to a location internal to a subject).
SIMULTANEOUS MULTI-SITE VAGUS NERVE NEUROMODULATION FOR IMPROVED GLYCEMIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHODS
Various methods and apparatus for treating a condition associated with impaired glucose regulation in a subject comprising in one embodiment, applying a neural conduction block to a target nerve at a blocking site with the neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve pulses. In another embodiment, combinations of down-regulating and or up-regulating with are used to treat impaired glucose regulation. In other embodiments, up-regulation or down-regulation of various nerves, such as the vagus and its branches, are used to modify the secretion of insulin and glucagon from the pancreas, thereby controlling glucose levels. In yet further embodiments, combinations of down-regulating and or up-regulating are used to control sensitivity of the liver to plasma insulin and glucagon to treat impaired glucose regulation.
FREE-FLOATING MILLIMETER-SIZED DISTRIBUTED IMPLANTABLE GASTRIC SEEDS
A method and system for gastric stimulation and imaging for a user. The system having an array of millimeter-sized gastric seeds implanted in a stomach area of a user. Each gastric seed is ultrasonically powered and communicates using a transducer, and the transducer has a recorder to measure a bioelectrical activity in the stomach area of the user. A wearable unit (WU) is worn or carried by the user, and the WU wirelessly powers the gastric seeds. The WU wirelessly communicates with the gastric seeds, and the gastric seeds communicate a parameter to the WU based on the bioelectrical activity. Received pulses by the seeds can he used to localize the position of the seeds and guide the wireless power/data transmission in a self-image-guided manner. A processing unit (PU) wirelessly communicates with the WU, and the WU communicates the parameters from the gastric seeds to the PU.
Devices and methods for the treatment of metabolic disorders
A system for stimulating the release of satiety hormone in a subject comprises a stimulus device which is implantable in the subject and adapted to apply an electrical stimulus to a tissue of a gastrointestinal system of said subject, and a detection device which is implantable in the subject and adapted to continuously monitoring at least one of a mechanical characteristic and an electrical characteristic of the subject to detect an ingestion of food by said subject, wherein the detection device cooperates with the stimulus device such that the stimulus device applies said electrical stimulus in response to a detected ingestion of food.
COMBINED LOCAL DELIVERY OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS USING INTERVENTIONAL DEVICES AND RADIATION
A method and system for combination therapy utilizing local drug delivery and radiotherapy at a target site of body tissue are provided. The delivery system comprises a source electrode adapted to be positioned proximate to a target site of internal body tissue. A counter electrode is in electrical communication with the source electrode, and is configured to cooperate with the source electrode to form a localized electric field proximate to the target site. A cargo may be delivered to the target site when exposed to the localized electric field. Radiotherapy is applied to the target site in combination with the local drug delivery.
Electro-stimulation Device and Method of Systematically Compounded Modulation of Current Intensity With Other Output Parameters for Affecting Biological Materials
An electro-therapy device that generates a mixed electrical signal through electrodes, wherein the mixed electrical signal is a combination of at least two different frequencies, a first frequency having a first minimum and maximum microamp range and a second frequency having a different second minimum and maximum microamp range. The higher of the two frequencies is superimposed on the lower frequency, creating a current intensity window as an envelope along a profile of the lower frequency. The mixed electrical signal is automatically applied for a pre-determined period of time, and amplitude and/or duration and/or frequencies is varied according to a pre-set schedule.
Implantable and non-invasive stimulators for gastrointestinal therapeutics
Systems and methods for implementation of a disposable miniaturized implant for treatment of Post-Operative Ileums (POI), a miniaturized implant for treating chronic GI dysmotility (e.g., dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), nausea, functional dyspepsia, blockage of transit, and gastroparesis, inflammatory bowel disease) and obesity, by providing electrical stimulation to the part of bowel going through surgery to expedite the healing process while recording the smooth muscle activities simultaneously, or providing stimulation on a treatment location of the GI tract or the branch of the vagus nerve. Systems and methods are also provided for non-invasive, transcutaneous stimulation of anatomy within the abdomen of the patient.
INTERVENTIONAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
A delivery system for local drug delivery to a target site of internal body tissue is provided. The delivery system comprises a source electrode adapted to be positioned proximate to a target site of internal body tissue. A counter electrode is in electrical communication with the source electrode, and is configured to cooperate with the source electrode to form a localized electric field proximate to the target site. A reservoir is configured to be disposed such that the reservoir is capable of interacting with the localized electric field. The reservoir is configured to carry a cargo capable of being delivered to the target site when exposed to the localized electric field. Associated methods are also provided.