Stimulating cranial nerve to treat pulmonary disorder

Abstract

Systems and methods to treat a pulmonary disorder are provided. A particular method includes positioning an electrode in a patient's body at a location proximate a branch of a vagus nerve. The branch of the vagus nerve includes at least one of a bronchial branch of the vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus. The method also includes activating the electrode such that energy is delivered from the electrode to the branch of the vagus nerve so as to block intrinsic neural activity in the branch of the vagus nerve to treat the pulmonary disorder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 positioning an electrode in a patient's body at a location proximate a branch of a vagus nerve, the branch of the vagus nerve including at least one of a bronchial branch of the vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus; and   activating the electrode such that energy is delivered from the electrode to the branch of the vagus nerve so as to block intrinsic neural activity in the branch of the vagus nerve to treat a pulmonary disorder.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulmonary disorder comprises asthma and delivering the energy attenuates hyper-responsiveness of an airway of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulmonary disorder comprises chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is placed in proximity to the pulmonary plexus near a root of a lung of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein signals to a brain of the patient via the vagus nerve are blocked. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein blocking intrinsic neural activity comprises blocking signals in both afferent and efferent nerve fibers in the branch of the vagus nerve. 
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 positioning an electrode outside of a bronchial airway within a subject; and   activating the electrode to deliver energy to nerve tissue positioned along the bronchial airway so as to block neural activity in the nerve tissue to treat a pulmonary disorder.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode is configured to deliver electrical energy to nerve tissue of a vagus nerve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode is configured to deliver energy to a branch of a vagus nerve including at least one of a bronchial branch of the vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode is placed within the subject in proximity to a bronchial branch of a vagus nerve or in proximity to a pulmonary plexus of the subject and near a root of a lung of the subject. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrode is placed within the subject proximate to a root of a lung of the subject. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for treating a patient having a pulmonary disorder, the apparatus comprising:
 an electrode positionable in a patient's body on or in proximity to a branch of a vagus nerve such that the electrode is operatively coupled thereto, the branch including at least one of a bronchial branch of the vagus nerve and a pulmonary plexus; and   a generator configured to be coupled to the electrode to deliver electrical energy thereto;   wherein the electrode is configured to deliver the electrical energy to the branch of the vagus nerve so as to block intrinsic neural activity in the branch of the vagus nerve to treat the pulmonary disorder.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode is configured to be positioned in proximity to the pulmonary plexus near a root of a lung of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode is configured to be positioned outside a bronchial airway of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the electrode is configured to be indirectly coupled to the branch of the vagus nerve. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a sensor adapted to sense a parameter in the patient's body, the generator being configured to deliver the electrical energy in response to data received from the sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the parameter comprises a symptom of the pulmonary disorder. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising a means for modulating the electrical energy based on the data received from the sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the generator is configured to modulate the electrical energy based on an impedance detected at the electrode. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the generator is configured to be implanted in the patient's body.