Stimulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion for treating depression
US7877147B2 · kind B2 · utility
22Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size
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Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/026
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.