Blood glucose level control
View Patent ↗A pancreatic controller ( 102 ), comprising: a glucose sensor ( 118 ), for sensing a level of glucose or insulin in a body serum; at least one electrode ( 110, 112 ), for electrifying an insulin producing cell or group of cells; a power source ( 104 ) for electrifying said electrode with a pulse that does not initiate an action potential in said cell and has an effect of increasing insulin secretion; and a controller ( 106 ) which receives the sensed level and controls said power source to electrify said electrode to have a desired effect on said level.
1. A pancreatic controller, comprising:
a glucose sensor, for sensing a level of glucose or insulin in a body serum;
at least one electrode, for electrifying an insulin producing cell or group of cells;
a power source for electing said at least one electrode with a pulse that does not initiate an action potential in said cell and has an effect of increasing insulin secretion; and
a controller which receives the sensed level and controls said power source to electrify said at least one electrode to have a desired effect on said level.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said insulin producing cell is contiguous with a pancreas and wherein said electrode is adapted for being placed adjacent said pancreas.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises a casing suitable for long term implantation inside the body.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said electrode is adapted for long term contact with bile fluids.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising an electrical activity sensor for sensing electrical activity of said cell and wherein said power source electrifies said electrode at a frequency higher than a sensed depolarization frequency of said cell, thereby causing said cell to depolarize at the higher frequency.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse is designed to extend a plateau duration of an action potential of said cell, thereby allowing more calcium inflow into the cell.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse is designed to reduce an action potential frequency of said cell, while not reducing insulin secretion from said cell.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse is designed to extend a duration of a burst activity of said cell.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse has an amplitude sufficient to recruit non-participating insulin secreting cells of said group of cells.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising at least a second electrode adjacent for electrifying a second cell or group of insulin secreting cells, wherein said controller electrifies said second electrode with a second pulse different from said first electrode.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said second pulse is designed to suppress insulin secretion.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said controller is programmed to electrify said second electrode at a later time to forcefully secrete said insulin whose secretion is suppressed earlier.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein said second pulse is designed to hyper-polarize said second cells.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller electrifies said at least one electrode with a pacing pulse having a sufficient amplitude to force a significant portion of said cells to depolarize, thus aligning the cells' action potentials with respect to the non-excitatory pulse electrification.
15. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller synchronizes the electrification of said electrode to a burst activity of said cell.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller synchronizes the electrification of said electrode to an individual action potential of said cell.
17. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller does not synchronize the electrification of said electrode to electrical activity of said cell.
18. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller does not apply said pulse at every action potential of said cell.
19. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller does not apply said pulse at every burst activity of said cell.
20. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse has a duration of less than a single action potential of said cell.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein said pulse has a duration of less than a plateau duration of said cell.
22. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse has a duration of longer than a single action potential of said cell.
23. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said pulse has a duration of longer than a burst activity duration of said cell.
24. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said controller determines said electrification in response to a pharmaceutical treatment applied to the cell.
25. Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said pharmaceutical treatment comprises a pancreatic treatment.
26. Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said controller applies said pulse to counteract adverse effects of said pharmaceutical treatment.
27. Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said controller applies said pulse to synergistically interact with said pharmaceutical treatment.
28. Apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein said controller applies said pulse to counteract adverse effects of pacing stimulation of said cell.
29. Apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising an alert generator.
30. Apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said controller activates said alert generator if said glucose level is below a threshold.
31. Apparatus according to claim 29 , wherein said controller activates said alert generator if said glucose level is above a threshold.
32. A method of controlling insulin secretion, comprising:
providing an electrode to at least a part of a pancreas;
applying a non-excitatory pulse to the at least part of a pancreas, which pulse increases secretion of insulin.
33. A method according to claim 32 , comprising applying an excitatory pulse in association with said non-excitatory pulse.
34. A method according to claim 32 , comprising applying a secretion reducing non-excitatory in association with said non-excitatory pulse.
35. A method according to claim 32 , comprising applying a plurality of pulses in a sequence designed to achieve a desired effect on said at least a part of a pancreas.
36. A pancreatic controller, comprising:
at least one electrode, adapted for electrifying an insulin producing cell or group of cells;
a power source for electrifying said at least one electrode with a waveform that does not initiate an action potential in said cell and has an effect of increasing insulin secretion; and
a controller which controls said power source to have a desired effect on a blood glucose level.
37. A controller according to claim 36 , wherein said power source electrifies said at least one electrode with an AC waveform.
38. A pancreatic controller, comprising:
a glucose sensor, adapted for sensing a level of glucose or insulin in a body serum;
at least one electrode, for electrifying an insulin producing cell or group of cells;
a power source for electrifying said at least one electrode with a pulse that extends an action duration of a burst activity of said cell; and
a controller which receives the sensed level and controls said power source to electrify said at least one electrode to have a desired effect on said level.
39. A method of controlling insulin secretion, comprising:
providing an electrode adapted to electrify at least a part of a pancreas having an electrical activity;
applying a non-excitatory AC pulse to the at least part of a pancreas, not synchronized to said electrical activity, which pulse modifies an insulin response of said pancreas to glucose levels.
40. A method of controlling body glucose levels, comprising:
providing an electrode adapted to electrify at least a part of a pancreas having an electrical activity;
applying a non-excitatory AC pulse to the at least part of a pancreas, not synchronized to said electrical activity, which pulse causes a reduction in glucose levels in a body containing said pancreas.