External magnetic field stimulation of the spg

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for treating a condition of a subject, including a coil, which is configured to be positioned in a vicinity of a site selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. A control unit is configured to drive the coil to generate a magnetic field in the vicinity of the site capable of inducing an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

1 - 236 . (canceled) 
   
   
       237 . Apparatus for treating a condition of a subject, comprising:
 a coil, configured to be positioned outside a body of the subject in a vicinity of a site selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and   a control unit, configured to drive the coil to generate a magnetic field in the vicinity of the site, and configure the magnetic field to stimulate the site.   
   
   
       238 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , wherein the control unit is configured to configure the magnetic field to induce an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject. 
   
   
       239 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , wherein the control unit is configured to configure the magnetic field to induce an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the subject. 
   
   
       240 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , wherein the site includes the SPG of the subject, and wherein the coil is configured to be positioned in the vicinity of the SPG. 
   
   
       241 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , wherein the control unit is configured to generate the magnetic field with a strength sufficient to stimulate the site, and insufficient to substantially stimulate brain tissue of the subject. 
   
   
       242 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , wherein the coil is configured to be positioned in a vicinity of a temporomandibular joint of the subject. 
   
   
       243 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , and comprising a support structure, which is coupled to the coil, and configured to position the coil outside the body in the vicinity of the site. 
   
   
       244 . The apparatus according to  claim 243 , wherein the support structure is shaped so as to be placed around at least a portion of a head of the subject. 
   
   
       245 . The apparatus according to  claim 243 , wherein the support structure is configured to position the coil in a vicinity of a temporomandibular joint of the subject. 
   
   
       246 . The apparatus according to  claim 237 , wherein the control unit is configured to drive the coil to focus the magnetic field on the site. 
   
   
       247 . A method for treating a condition of a subject, comprising:
 selecting a site from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and   treating the condition by generating, from outside a body of the subject, a magnetic field in the vicinity of the site, and configuring the magnetic field to stimulate the site.   
   
   
       248 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein configuring the magnetic field comprises configuring the magnetic field to induce an increase in cerebral flood flow (CBF) of the subject. 
   
   
       249 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein configuring the magnetic field comprises configuring the magnetic field to induce an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the subject. 
   
   
       250 . The method according to  claim 249 , and comprising administering a drug to a body of the subject, in conjunction with generating the magnetic field, wherein generating the magnetic field comprises configuring the magnetic field to be capable of inducing the increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the subject sufficiently to increase passage of the drug across the BBB into a central nervous system (CNS) of the subject. 
   
   
       251 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein the site includes the SPG of the subject, and wherein generating the magnetic field comprises generating the magnetic field in the vicinity of the SPG. 
   
   
       252 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein generating the magnetic field comprises generating the magnetic field with a strength sufficient to stimulate the site, and insufficient to substantially stimulate brain tissue of the subject. 
   
   
       253 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein generating the magnetic field comprises generating the magnetic field at a vicinity of a temporomandibular joint of the subject. 
   
   
       254 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein generating the magnetic field comprises generating the magnetic field from around at least a portion of a head of the subject. 
   
   
       255 . The method according to  claim 247 , wherein generating the magnetic field comprises focusing the magnetic field on the site.