Neuromodulation techniques for treatment of hypoglycemia

Abstract

A system is provided herein for stimulating an anatomical element of a patient. For example, a device may be configured to generate a current, and an electrode device coupled to the device may be configured to apply the current to the anatomical element. In some examples, the current may be configured to prevent hypoglycemic episodes from occurring in the patient when applied to the anatomical element. For example, the current may be configured to downregulate neural activity of a celiac vagal trunk and to upregulate neural activity of a hepatic vagal trunk. Accordingly, the current being applied to anatomical element of the patient may result in a decrease in insulin production of the patient, an increase in glucose production of the patient, an increase in blood sugar levels of the patient, or a combination thereof. Additionally, applying the current may prevent nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes from occurring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for stimulating an anatomical element of a patient, comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator configured to generate a current;   an electrode device electrically coupled to the implantable pulse generator, the electrode device comprising a plurality of electrodes configured for placement on or around the anatomical element of the patient;   a processor; and   a memory storing data for processing by the processor, the data, when processed, causes the processor to:
 transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the anatomical element of the patient via the plurality of electrodes of the electrode device, wherein the current is configured to prevent hypoglycemic episodes from occurring in the patient when applied to the anatomical element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anatomical element comprises a celiac vagal trunk and a hepatic vagal trunk of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes configured for placement on the celiac vagal trunk; and   a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes configured for placement on the hepatic vagal trunk.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data stored in the memory that, when processed causes the processor to transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the anatomical element further causes the system to:
 transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the celiac vagal trunk via the first electrode to downregulate neural activity of the celiac vagal trunk; and   transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the hepatic vagal trunk via the second electrode to upregulate neural activity of the hepatic vagal trunk.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a monitoring device configured to continuously monitor glucose levels in the patient, wherein the current is applied to the anatomical element based at least in part on the monitoring device detecting decreased glucose levels in the patient.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the memory stores further data for processing by the processor that, when processed, causes the processor to:
 implement a control process for the patient, wherein the control process comprises the monitoring device obtaining glucose values of the patient; and   implement a response protocol based at least in part on the glucose values falling below a first threshold value range for longer than a first predetermined amount of time, wherein the response protocol comprises transmitting the instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the anatomical element to prevent a possible hypoglycemic episode from occurring.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the memory stores further data for processing by the processor that, when processed, causes the processor to:
 deactivate the response protocol based at least in part on the glucose values rising above a second threshold value range for longer than a second predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the control process is implemented during nighttime, while the patient sleeps, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the response process is implemented based at least in part on a heartrate of the patient, the patient being asleep, breathing rhythms of the patient, neural activity of the patient, or another factor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the memory stores further data for processing by the processor that, when processed, causes the processor to:
 transmit an indication to a user interface accessible by the patient that glucose levels in the patient are low based at least in part on the monitoring device detecting the decreased glucose levels in the patient; and   receive a command from the patient to apply the current to the anatomical element via the implantable pulse generator to prevent a potential hypoglycemic episode from occurring based at least in part on the indication.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the current applied to anatomical element of the patient results in a decrease in insulin production of the patient, an increase in glucose production of the patient, an increase in blood sugar levels of the patient, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A system for stimulating an anatomical element of a patient, comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator configured to generate a current;   an electrode device comprising:
 a body; and 
 a plurality of electrodes disposed on the body and configured to apply the current to the anatomical element; 
   a processor; and   a memory storing data for processing by the processor, the data, when processed, causes the processor to:
 transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the anatomical element of the patient via the plurality of electrodes of the electrode device, wherein the current is configured to prevent hypoglycemic episodes from occurring in the patient when applied to the anatomical element. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the anatomical element comprises a celiac vagal trunk and a hepatic vagal trunk of the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes configured for placement on the celiac vagal trunk; and   a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes configured for placement on the hepatic vagal trunk.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the data stored in the memory that, when processed causes the processor to transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the anatomical element further causes the system to:
 transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the celiac vagal trunk via the first electrode to downregulate neural activity of the celiac vagal trunk; and   transmit instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the hepatic vagal trunk via the second electrode to upregulate neural activity of the hepatic vagal trunk.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a monitoring device configured to continuously monitor glucose levels in the patient, wherein the current is applied to the anatomical element based at least in part on the monitoring device detecting decreased glucose levels in the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the memory stores further data for processing by the processor that, when processed, causes the processor to:
 implement a control process for the patient, wherein the control process comprises the monitoring device obtaining glycemic values of the patient; and   implement a response protocol based at least in part on the glycemic values falling below a first threshold value range for longer than a first predetermined amount of time, wherein the response protocol comprises transmitting the instructions to the implantable pulse generator to apply the current to the anatomical element to prevent a possible hypoglycemic episode from occurring.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the memory stores further data for processing by the processor that, when processed, causes the processor to:
 deactivate the response protocol based at least in part on the glycemic values rising above a second threshold value range for longer than a second predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
         19 . A system for stimulating an anatomical element of a patient, comprising:
 an implantable pulse generator configured to generate a current;   an electrode device connected to the implantable pulse generator, the electrode device comprising a plurality of electrodes;   a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes configured for placement on or around a celiac vagal trunk of the patient, wherein the current generated by the implantable pulse generator is applied to the celiac vagal trunk via the first electrode; and   a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes configured for placement on or around a hepatic vagal trunk of the patient, wherein the current generated by the implantable pulse generator is applied to the hepatic vagal trunk via the second electrode, and wherein the current is configured to prevent hypoglycemic episodes from occurring in the patient when applied to the anatomical element.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the current being applied to the celiac vagal trunk via the first electrode downregulates neural activity of the celiac vagal trunk; and   the current being applied to the hepatic vagal trunk via the second electrode upregulates neural activity of the hepatic vagal trunk.