Granted Patent B2

US 8,571,653 · App. 13/022,279 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

Inventors: Tamir Ben-David (Tel Aviv, IL); Ehud Cohen (Ganei Tikva, IL); Yossi Gross (Moshav Mazor, IL); Shai Ayal (Shoham, IL)

Assignee: Bio Control Medical (B.C.M.) Ltd.

Abstract

Claims (8)

1. A method for treating heart failure in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising:

applying a stimulating current to parasympathetic nervous tissue of the subject, selected from the group consisting of: a vagus nerve and an epicardial fat pad;

configuring the stimulating current to inhibit release of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta sufficiently to the treat heart failure of the subject; and

measuring a level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the configuring comprises configuring the stimulating current to inhibit the release of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta and to change a level of Connexin 43 of the subject, and wherein measuring comprises measuring the level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta and the level of Connexin 43.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the heart failure is selected from the group consisting of: heart failure, congestive heart failure, and diastolic heart failure.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein applying the stimulating current comprises applying the stimulating current during a period having a duration of at least one week.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein measuring the level of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta comprises measuring a level of mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Activin-A, and TGF-beta.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (15)