TECHNIQUES FOR NEUROMODULATION USING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY
The subject matter of the present disclosure generally relates to techniques for neuromodulation of tissue that include applying energy (e.g., electromagnetic energy) into the target tissue to cause altered activity of a neuron in the tissue. In certain embodiments, the altered activity causes a change in one or molecules in the tissue or blood.
1 . A method of neuromodulation, comprising:
focusing an electromagnetic energy source on an internal tissue field in a patient in need of neuromodulation, the internal tissue field comprising one or more neurons, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is not in direct contact with the tissue field of focus; and
applying one or more energy pulses to the patient's internal tissue in the field of focus via the electromagnetic energy source to cause a change in activity in the patient's internal tissue, wherein the change is relative to a baseline activity;
wherein the electromagnetic energy source is extracorporeal and the one or more energy sources are applied transdermally.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient's internal tissue is a peripheral tissue.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient's internal tissue is a spleen.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient's internal tissue is a lymph node.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline is indicative of the activity of the internal tissue before applying the one or more energy pulses.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein a time at which the one or more energy pulses are applied is designated as time zero, and wherein the baseline is indicative of the activity at a time immediately before the energy pulses are applied.
7 - 9 . (canceled)
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in activity is a change in a level of cytokine release in the internal tissue.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in activity is a change in a level of a cytokine in the patient's blood.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the change in activity is a decrease in a level of a cytokine in the patient's blood.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cytokine is one or more of TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 and HMGB1.
14 . (canceled)
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy source generates an electromagnetic field.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has one or more of endotoxemia, sepsis, septicemia, septic shock, inflammation, and a pathogenic consequence of an inflammatory condition or an inflammatory cytokine cascade.
17 . The method of claim 1 comprising:
controlling an electromagnetic energy source to apply one or more energy pulses to a patient's internal immune tissue and according to one or more parameters of the energy pulses to cause a change in a level of cytokine release in the internal tissue in direct response to the one or more energy pulses;
receiving information related to the release of the cytokine relative to a baseline before the one or more energy pulses are applied; and
changing the one or more parameters based on the information;
wherein the electromagnetic energy source is configured to be positioned on or above a patient's skin.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cytokine is one or more of TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 and HMGB1.
19 . (canceled)
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the patient's internal immune tissue is a spleen.
21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the patient's internal immune tissue is a lymph node.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has one or more of endotoxemia, sepsis, septicemia, septic shock, inflammation, and a pathogenic consequence of an inflammatory condition or an inflammatory cytokine cascade.
23 . The method of claim 1 comprising:
positioning an electromagnetic field generator at a location at which the electromagnetic field generator is capable of stimulating one or more neurons in an internal lymphatic tissue field; and
applying one or more energy pulses to the tissue field via the electromagnetic field generator to alter activity in the one or more neurons in response to the one or more energy pulses to modulate the lymphatic tissue in the field;
wherein the energy pulses are applied non-invasively.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the lymphatic tissue is a lymph node and/or spleen.
25 . (canceled)
26 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the number of lymphocytes is increased in a tissue and/or serum levels of one or more proinflammatory cytokines is decreased in a subject, thereby treating an infection and/or an inflammation in the subject.
27 - 32 . (canceled)