Method and apparatus for stimulating the sphenopalatine ganglion to modify properties of the BBB and cerebral blood

Abstract

Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient is provided, including one or more electrodes ( 7 ), adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) ( 6 ) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG. A control unit ( 8 ) is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing (a) an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient, (b) a change in cerebral blood flow of the patient, and/or (c) an inhibition of parasympathetic activity of the SPG.

1 . Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       a control unit, adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       a control unit, adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing an increase in cerebral blood flow of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       a control unit, adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inducing a decrease in cerebral blood flow of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 one or more electrodes, adapted to be applied to a site selected from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       a control unit, adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply a current to the site capable of inhibiting parasympathetic activity of the SPG. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted for a period of implantation in the patient greater than about one month. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , and comprising a wire, adapted to connect the control unit to the one or more electrodes, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes from a position external to the patient. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes by wireless communication from a position external to the patient. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , and comprising an electromagnetic coupling, adapted to couple the control unit and the one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is adapted to be in electro-optical communication with the one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the control unit is adapted to be in electro-acoustic communication with the one or more electrodes. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the control unit is adapted to be implanted in a nasal cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted to be implanted in a nasal cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein at least one of the one or more electrodes comprises a flexible electrode, adapted for insertion through a nostril of the patient and to extend therefrom to the site. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , and comprising at least one biosensor, adapted to measure a physiological parameter of the patient and to generate a signal responsive thereto, wherein the control unit is adapted to modify a parameter of the applied current responsive to the signal. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises a blood flow sensor. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises a temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises a chemical sensor. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises an ultrasound sensor. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises transcranial Doppler (TCD) apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises laser-Doppler apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises a systemic blood pressure sensor. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises an intracranial blood pressure sensor. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the intracranial blood pressure sensor comprises a detecting element adapted to be fixed to a cerebral blood vessel, and wherein the control unit is adapted to analyze the signal to detect an indication of a change in blood pressure indicative of a clot. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises a kinetics sensor. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the control unit is adapted to analyze the signal to detect an indication of a change in body disposition of the patient. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises an electroencephalographic (EEG) sensor. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosensor comprises a blood vessel clot detector. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to configure the current so as to facilitate uptake of a drug through the BBB when the permeability of the BBB is increased. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is adapted to configure the current so as to increase a diameter of a blood vessel and allow an embolus that is located at a site in the blood vessel to move from the site in the blood vessel. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current responsive to an indication of stroke. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the one or more electrodes to apply the current responsive to an indication of migraine of the patient. 
     
     
         32 . A method for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 selecting a site from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       applying a current to the site capable of inducing an increase in permeability of a blood-brain barrier (BBB) of the patient. 
     
     
         33 . A method for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 selecting a site from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       applying a current to the site capable of inducing an increase in cerebral blood flow of the patient. 
     
     
         34 . A method for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 selecting a site from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       applying a current to the site capable of inducing a decrease in cerebral blood flow of the patient. 
     
     
         35 . A method for modifying a property of a brain of a patient, comprising:
 selecting a site from a group of sites consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient and a neural tract originating in or leading to the SPG; and   
       applying a current to the site capable of inhibiting parasympathetic activity of the SPG. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , wherein selecting the site comprises implanting an electrode at the site, designated to remain in the patient for a period greater than about one month. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , wherein selecting the site comprises placing an electrode at the site, and wherein applying the current comprises communicating with the electrode by wired communication from a position external to the patient. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , wherein selecting the site comprises placing an electrode at the site, and wherein applying the current comprises communicating with the electrode by wireless communication from a position external to the patient. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein communicating comprises communicating via electromagnetic coupling. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein communicating comprises communicating via electro-optical coupling. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein communicating comprises communicating via electro-acoustic coupling. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , wherein applying the current comprises implanting a control unit in a nasal cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , wherein applying the current comprises implanting one or more electrodes in a nasal cavity of the patient. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 43 , wherein implanting comprises inserting a flexible electrode through a nostril of the patient. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , and comprising sensing a physiological parameter of the patient and generating a signal responsive thereto, wherein applying the current comprises modifying a parameter of the applied current responsive to the signal. 
     
     
         46 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing blood flow of the patient. 
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing a temperature of the patient. 
     
     
         48 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing presence of a chemical. 
     
     
         49 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises detecting ultrasonic energy. 
     
     
         50 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises performing a transcranial Doppler (TCD) technique. 
     
     
         51 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises performing a laser-Doppler technique. 
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing systemic blood pressure of the patient. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing intracranial blood pressure of the patient. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 53 , wherein sensing intracranial blood pressure fixing to a cerebral blood vessel a detecting element capable of generating the signal, and analyzing the signal to detect an indication of a change in blood pressure indicative of a clot. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing a kinetic disposition of the patient. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein sensing the kinetic disposition comprises detecting an indication of a change in body disposition of the patient. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises sensing electroencephalographic (EEG) data. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 45 , wherein sensing comprises detecting presence of an embolus in a blood vessel of the patient. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein applying the current comprises configuring the current so as to facilitate uptake of a drug through the BBB when the permeability of the BBB is increased. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein applying the current comprises configuring the current so as to increase a diameter of a blood vessel and allow an embolus that is located at a site in the blood vessel to move from the site in the blood vessel. 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein applying the current comprises applying the current responsive to an indication of stroke. 
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein applying the current comprises applying the current responsive to an indication of migraine of the patient. 
     
     
         63 . A method according to any one of  claims 32 - 35 , wherein selecting the site comprises implanting an electrode at the site, designated to remain in the patient for a period less than about one week. 
     
     
         64 . Apparatus according to any one of  claims 1 - 4 , wherein the one or more electrodes are adapted for a period of implantation in the patient less than about one week. 
     
     
         65 . Vascular apparatus, comprising:
 a detecting element, adapted to be fixed to a blood vessel of a patient and to generate a signal responsive to energy coming from the blood vessel; and   a control unit, adapted to analyze the signal so as to determine an indication of an embolus in the blood vessel.   
     
     
         66 . Apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the detecting element comprises an energy transmitter and an energy receiver. 
     
     
         67 . Apparatus according to  claim 66 , wherein the energy transmitter comprises an ultrasound transmitter. 
     
     
         68 . Apparatus according to  claim 66 , wherein the energy transmitter comprises a transmitter of electromagnetic energy. 
     
     
         69 . A method for detecting, comprising:
 fixing a detecting element to a blood vessel of a patient;   
       generate a signal responsive to energy coming from the blood vessel; and
 analyzing the signal so as to determine an indication of an embolus in the blood vessel. 
 
     
     
         70 . A method according to  claim 69 , wherein generating the signal comprises transmitting energy at the blood vessel. 
     
     
         71 . A method according to  claim 70 , wherein generating the signal comprises transmitting ultrasound energy at the blood vessel. 
     
     
         72 . A method according to  claim 70 , wherein generating the signal comprises transmitting electromagnetic energy at the blood vessel.