Patent Application
20170304610
The present disclosure relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for treating an ischemic brain injury. More specifically, the disclosure relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for delivering a treatment to a therapy region in a patient's brain.
Neurostimulation systems may be therapeutic in a variety of diseases and disorders. For example, neurostimulation systems may be effective to treat neurological disorders, such as neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, tremor, and epilepsy), brain ischemia, such as stroke, and limbic disorders, as well as non-neurological disorders, such as migraine headaches, obesity, and incontinence, by electrically stimulating selected portions of the brain. In a deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedure, a selected deep brain structure may be electrically stimulated.
In addition, organ injury and/or neurodegenerative diseases may cause metabolic dysfunction in organ tissue. Treating tissue regions having metabolic dysfunction may be beneficial in treatment of neurological disorders and injuries.
In Example 1, a deep brain stimulation lead includes: a plurality of electrodes configured to obtain a physiological signal indicative of a therapy region; and a lumen arranged within the deep brain stimulation lead and configured to facilitate delivery of a treatment substrate to the therapy region.
In Example 2, the lead of Example 1, further including an insulation layer arranged with the deep brain stimulation lead between the plurality of electrodes and the lumen.
In Example 3, the lead of Examples 1 or 2, wherein an interior surface of the lumen further includes a lubricious coating configured to facilitate delivery of the treatment substrate.
In Example 4, the lead of any of Examples 1-3, wherein the plurality of electrodes is arranged circumferentially around the deep brain stimulation lead.
In Example 5, the lead of any of Examples 1-4, wherein the substrate includes at least one of glucose, autologous mitochondria, pyruvate, creatine, and L-carnitine.
In Example 6, the lead of any of Examples 1-5, wherein the deep brain stimulation lead includes an external surface, and the lumen is centrally arranged within the external surface of the lead, and further including at least one port extending through the external surface to the lumen.
In Example 7, the lead of Example 6, further including at least one valve configured to close the at least one port.
In Example 8, the lead of Example 6, wherein the at least one port includes a plurality of ports arranged at a plurality of locations along the external surface of the deep brain stimulation lead, and further including a sheath configured to direct the treatment substrate through at least one of the plurality of ports to deliver the treatment substrate to the therapy region.
In Example 9, the lead of any of Examples 1-8, wherein the treatment substrate is configured to increase at least one of cellular metabolism, respiration, and function at the therapy region.
In Example 10, the lead of any of Examples 1-9, wherein the treatment substrate is configured to treat metabolic dysfunction in the therapy region.
In Example 11, the lead of any of Examples 1-10, wherein the treatment substrate is configured to treat at least one of a traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
In Example 12, the lead of any of Examples 1-11, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes directs stimulation energy toward the therapy region.
In Example 13, the lead of Example 12, wherein the at least one of the plurality of electrodes is arranged near the therapy region and is toggled to produce an electrical stimulation pulse, and at least another of the plurality of electrodes is toggled to withhold production of an electrical stimulation pulse.
In Example 14, the lead of Example 1, wherein the lead further includes a distal opening, and wherein the lumen is sized to receive a delivery catheter having a catheter lumen configured to deliver the treatment substrate, via one or more substrate delivery openings disposed at or near a distal end thereof, to the therapy region, the delivery catheter configured to move within the lumen such that the distal end of the delivery catheter protrudes from the distal opening of the lead, exposing the one or more substrate delivery openings to the therapy region.
In Example 15, the lead of any of Examples 1-14, wherein the lead is configured to be coupled to an implantable pulse generator.
In Example 16, a deep brain stimulation lead includes: a lead body; a plurality of electrodes arranged on the lead body, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is configured to obtain a physiological signal indicative of a therapy region; and a lumen arranged within the lead body and configured to facilitate delivery of a treatment substrate to the therapy region.
In Example 17, the lead of Example 16, wherein the treatment substrate is configured to treat at least one of a traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
In Example 18, the lead of Example 16, further including an insulation layer arranged within the lead body between the plurality of electrodes and the lumen.
In Example 19, the lead of Example 16, wherein an interior surface of the lumen further includes a lubricious coating configured to facilitate delivery of the treatment substrate.
In Example 20, the lead of Example 16, wherein the treatment substrate includes at least one of glucose, autologous mitochondria, pyruvate, creatine, and L-carnitine.
In Example 21, the lead of Example 16, wherein the lead body includes an external surface, and the lumen is centrally arranged within the external surface of the lead body, and further including at least one port extending through the external surface to the lumen.
In Example 22, the lead of Example 21, wherein the at least one port includes a plurality of ports arranged at a plurality of locations along the external surface of the lead body, and further including an adjustable sheath disposed within the lumen and configured to direct the treatment substrate through at least one of the plurality of ports to deliver the treatment substrate to the therapy region.
In Example 23, the lead of Example 16, wherein the lead further includes a distal opening, and wherein the lumen is sized to receive a delivery catheter having a catheter lumen configured to deliver the treatment substrate, via one or more substrate delivery openings disposed at or near a distal end thereof, to the therapy region, the delivery catheter configured to move within the lumen such that the distal end of the delivery catheter protrudes from the distal opening of the lead, exposing the one or more substrate delivery openings to the therapy region.
In Example 24, the lead of Example 16, wherein the treatment substrate is configured to treat metabolic dysfunction in the therapy region.
In Example 25, a deep brain stimulation system includes: a lead having: a lead body; a plurality of electrodes arranged circumferentially around the lead body, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is configured to obtain a physiological signal; and a lumen arranged within the lead body and configured to facilitate delivery of a treatment substrate to a therapy region; and a controller communicatively coupled to the lead, the controller configured to: receive the physiological signal; and identify the therapy region based on the physiological signal.
In Example 26, the system of Example 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrodes is arranged near the therapy region and is toggled to produce an electrical stimulation pulse, and at least another of the plurality of electrodes is toggled to withhold production of an electrical stimulation pulse.
In Example 27, the system of Example 25, further including a delivery catheter having a catheter lumen configured to deliver the treatment substrate, via one or more substrate delivery openings disposed at or near a distal end thereof, to the therapy region, the delivery catheter configured to move within the lumen such that the distal end of the delivery catheter protrudes from a distal opening in the lead, exposing the one or more substrate delivery openings to the therapy region.
In Example 28, the system of Example 25, the controller including an implantable pulse generator.
In Example 29, a method for treating a brain condition of a patient using a treatment substrate includes: identifying, using a lead having a plurality of electrodes arranged thereon, a therapy region based on a physiological signal obtained by at least one of the plurality of electrodes; and delivering, via a lumen arranged within the lead, the treatment substrate to the therapy region.
In Example 30, the method of Example 29, further including producing the treatment substrate, wherein producing the treatment substrate includes: isolating mitochondria from skeletal muscle of the patient; and determining that the isolated mitochondria are respiration-competent.
In Example 31, the method of Example 29, wherein delivering the treatment substrate to the therapy region includes: moving a delivery catheter within the lumen such that a distal end of the delivery catheter protrudes from a distal opening in the lead, exposing, to the therapy region, one or more substrate delivery openings disposed on the delivery catheter near a distal end of the delivery catheter.
In Example 32, the method of Example 29, further including directing electrical stimulation energy toward the therapy region using one or more of the plurality of electrodes.
In Example 33, the method of Example 29, wherein delivering the treatment substrate to the therapy region includes directing the treatment substrate through one or more of a plurality of ports extending through an external surface of the lead to the lumen.
In Example 34, the method of Example 33, wherein directing the treatment substrate through one or more of a plurality of ports includes manipulating a sheath slideably disposed within the lumen.
In Example 35, the method of Example 29, wherein the treatment substrate includes at least one of glucose, autologous mitochondria, pyruvate, creatine, and L-carnitine.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
While the disclosure is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
As the terms are used herein with respect to ranges of measurements (such as those disclosed immediately above), “about” and “approximately” may be used, interchangeably, to refer to a measurement that includes the stated measurement and that also includes any measurements that are reasonably close to the stated measurement, but that may differ by a reasonably small amount such as will be understood, and readily ascertained, by individuals having ordinary skill in the relevant arts to be attributable to measurement error, differences in measurement and/or manufacturing equipment calibration, human error in reading and/or setting measurements, adjustments made to optimize performance and/or structural parameters in view of differences in measurements associated with other components, particular implementation scenarios, imprecise adjustment and/or manipulation of objects by a person or machine, and/or the like.
Although the term “block” may be used herein to connote different elements illustratively employed, the term should not be interpreted as implying any requirement of, or particular order among or between, various steps disclosed herein unless and except when explicitly referring to the order of individual steps.
Metabolic dysfunction may occur in organ tissue as a result of a brain injury or brain disease. Using a treatment substrate (e.g., glucose, autologous mitochondria, pyruvate, creatine, L-carnitine, and/or other metabolic agents) may improve cellular metabolism, respiration and function in a subthalamic nucleus of the organ tissue having metabolic dysfunction. In certain instances, the treatment substrate may be autologous mitochondria. Respiration competent autologous mitochondria may augment or replace the function of mitochondria damaged during ischemia and allow for enhanced post-ischemic functional recovery and rescue cellular viability in a subthalamic nucleus of the organ tissue having metabolic dysfunction, which may be the result of an ischemic injury. Treatment with respiration competent mitochondria or other metabolic improving agents may facilitate correction of disorders with ischemic-like consequences due to metabolic dysfunction. In addition, the respiration competent mitochondria may allow improvement in, or a slowing of the progression of, a traumatic brain injury (such as concussion, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and etc.) Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and/or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
According to various embodiments, treatment of ischemic injury and/or other metabolic-related disorders may include injecting a treatment substrate in a therapy region in the brain. The therapy region may include a selected deep brain structure, e.g., the subthalamic nucleus (STN), the ventral intermedium (Vim), the internal segment of globus pallidus (GPi), the anterior thalamus, the ventrolateral thalamus (Thal), internal segment of globus pallidus (GPi), the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr), subthalamic nucleus (STN), the external segment of globus pallidus (GPe), and the neostriatum, is electrically stimulated. In certain instances, more than one structure may be stimulated. Additionally, treatment of ischemic injury may include injecting a treatment substrate in the therapy region in the brain and stimulation of the therapy region with a DBS lead.
As shown, the DBS lead 102 is communicatively coupled to the controller 104. A connector 110 arranged with the controller 104 couples an end of the DBS lead 102 to the controller 104, thereby communicatively (e.g., electrically) coupling the electrodes 108 to the internal electronics within the controller 104. The controller 104 may also include a housing 112, which contains and houses electronic and other components. In embodiments, the controller 104 may include a pulse generator that may be implantable within a patient (e.g., an implantable pulse generator (IPG)), or configured to be positioned external to the patient. In instances where the controller 104 is implantable, the housing 112 may be formed of an electrically conductive, biocompatible material, such as titanium, and may form a hermetically sealed compartment wherein the internal electronics are protected from the body tissue and fluids.
The housing 112 may enclose sensing circuitry 114 configured to receive, from one or more of the electrodes 108, physiological signals obtained by the one or more electrodes 108. The housing 112 may also enclose pulse generation circuitry 116 that delivers stimulation energy via one or more of the electrodes 108. According to various embodiments, the sensing circuitry 114 (or aspects thereof) and/or the pulse generation circuitry 116 (or aspects thereof) may be configured to be implanted in the patient and/or disposed external to the patient. That is, for example, in embodiments, the sensing circuitry 114 and the pulse generation circuitry 116 may be integrated within a processor disposed in an implantable medical device (e.g., the controller 104) and/or an external medical device. The sensing circuitry 114 (or aspects thereof) and/or the pulse generation circuitry 116 (or aspects thereof) may be implemented in any combination of hardware, firmware, and software. For example, the sensing circuitry 114 may be, or include, a first algorithm, virtual processor, and/or process implemented by a processor, and, similarly, the pulse generation circuitry 116 circuit may be, or include, a second algorithm, virtual processor, and/or process implemented by a processor. In embodiments, the sensing circuitry 114 may be, or include, a first set of physical and/or virtual circuit elements, and, similarly, the pulse generation circuitry 116 may be, or include, a second set of physical and/or virtual circuit elements.
In embodiments, the controller 104 may include a programmable micro-controller or microprocessor, and may include one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs) or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). In some implementations, the controller 104 may include memory as well. Although embodiments of the present system 100 are described in conjunction with a controller 104 having a microprocessor-based architecture, it will be understood that the controller 104 (or other device) may be implemented in any logic-based integrated circuit architecture, if desired. The controller 104 may include digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, analog-to-digital (A/D) converters, timers, counters, filters, switches, and/or the like.
The sensing circuitry 114 may be configured to receive a physiological signal obtained by one or more of the electrodes 108, and analyze the received physiological signal to identify a therapy region. According to embodiments, the physiological signal may include intrinsic electrical activity, a physiological response to an applied stimulation signal, and/or the like. For example, the sensing circuitry 114 may be configured to obtain a physiological signal that is a response to a stimulation signal administered using one or more of the electrodes 108, and to analyze that signal to identify a therapy location. In embodiments, the sensing circuitry 114 may be configured to evaluate motion of the patient, electrical activity of the brain, and/or other physiological signals to identify a therapy region.
The therapy region may be, in embodiments, a region including a portion of tissue (e.g., brain tissue) that is identified as being likely to be associated with a brain condition. For example, in implementations used for treating disorders affecting the motor system such as Parkinson's disease, a clinician may insert the lead 102 into a region of the patient's brain associated with the disorder, operate the controller 104 (e.g., manually, if the controller 104 is external, and via telemetry if the controller 104 is implanted), causing the controller 104 to deliver stimulation energy to a selected region via one or more of the electrodes 108. By evaluating an electrical response obtained by one or more of the electrodes 108, the controller 104 and/or the clinician may determine whether the selected region is a therapy region (e.g., the selected region may be identified as a therapy region if the physiological response to the stimulation indicates a therapeutic affect). In embodiments, the clinician may identify a therapy region by determining a region of brain tissue for which administering stimulation energy results in at least some improvement in an externally-observable symptom (e.g., jerkiness of motions, limitation of motion, etc.).
The stimulation energy may be in the form of a pulsed electrical waveform to one or more of the electrodes 108 in accordance with a set of stimulation parameters, which may be programmed into the controller 104, transmitted to the controller 104, and/or the like. Stimulation parameters may include, for example, electrode combinations that define the electrodes that are activated as anodes (positive), cathodes (negative), turned on, turned off (zero), percentage of stimulation energy assigned to each electrode (fractionalized electrode configurations), and/or electrical pulse parameters, which define the pulse amplitude (measured in milliamps or volts depending on whether the controller 104 supplies constant current or constant voltage to one or more of the electrodes 108), pulse duration (measured in microseconds), pulse rate (measured in pulses per second), and/or burst rate (measured as the stimulation on duration X and stimulation off duration Y). The pulse generation circuitry 116 may be capable of delivering the stimulation energy to the one or more of the electrodes 108 over multiple channels or over only a single channel. Stimulation energy may be used to identify therapy regions and/or to provide stimulation therapy to identified therapy regions. In embodiments, stimulation energy may be used in conjunction with treatment substrates, as described herein.
Stimulation energy may be transmitted to the tissue in a monopolar or multipolar (e.g., bipolar, tripolar, etc.) fashion. Monopolar stimulation occurs when a selected one or more of the electrodes 108 is activated and transmits stimulation energy to tissue. Bipolar stimulation, a type of multipolar stimulation, occurs when two of the electrodes 108 are activated as anode and cathode, so that stimulation energy is transmitted between the activated electrodes. Multipolar stimulation also may occur when more than two (e.g., three, four, etc.) of the electrodes 108 are activated, e.g., two as anodes and a third as a cathode, or two as cathodes and a third as an anode. In certain instances, the pulse generation circuitry 116 may individually control the magnitude of electrical current flowing through each of the electrodes. In these instances, current generators may be used to supply current-regulated amplitudes to selectively generate independent current sources for one or more of the electrodes 108.
As is further shown in
The SDS 212 may be coupled to the neurostimulation lead 202 via a fluid conduit (218) configured to provide a treatment substrate to a lumen arranged within the lead 202. In embodiments, the SDS 212 may include a substrate reservoir 220 configured to store a volume or other measured quantity of the treatment substrate and a metering component 222 configured to facilitate providing a specified amount of the treatment substrate from the reservoir 220 to the conduit 218. In embodiments, the metering component 222 may include a pump, a valve, a syringe, and/or the like, and may be configured to be operated electronically, manually, automatically, and/or the like. The metering component 222 may allow for sustained or controlled release of the treatment substrate after implantation. In certain embodiments, the treatment substrate may be coated on an external (abluminal) surface of one or both of the neurostimulation leads 202, 204. The treatment substrate may be coated along a length of one or both of the neurostimulation leads 202, 204, portions of the length of one or both of the neurostimulation leads 202, 204 or as a bead at a distal end of one or both of the neurostimulation leads 202, 204. Coating the neurostimulation lead 202 may allow for sustained or controlled release of the treatment substrate after implantation.
In certain instances, the DBS system 200 may use the RC 208 to telemetrically control the SDS 212 via a communications link 224. The RC 208 may be used to telemetrically control the PG 206 via a communications link 226. The RC 208 may also modify programmed stimulation parameters and/or treatment substrate delivery parameters to actively control the characteristics of the electrical stimulation energy output by the PG 206 or the delivery of the treatment substrate by the SDS 212. The RC 208 may perform these functions by indirectly communicating with the PG 206 and/or the SDS 212, through the RC 208, via a communications link 228. Alterations to the stimulation parameters, stimulation characteristics, treatment substrate delivery parameters, and/or treatment substrate delivery characteristics may be altered using the CP 210. The CP 210 may directly communicate with the PG 206 and/or the SDS 212 via a communications link (not shown). The external charger 214 may be a portable device used to charge the PG 206 via a charging link 230, which may be, e.g., an inductive charging link, a radio frequency (RF) charging link, and/or the like.
In embodiments, any one or more of the communication links 224, 226, 228, and 230 may be, or include, a wireless communication link such as, for example, a short-range radio link, such as Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, a proprietary wireless protocol, and/or the like. In embodiments, for example, one or more of the communication links 224, 226, 228 may utilize Bluetooth Low Energy radio (Bluetooth 4.1), or a similar protocol, and may utilize an operating frequency in the range of 2.40 to 2.48 GHz. The term “communication link” may refer to an ability to communicate some type of information in at least one direction between at least two devices, and should not be understood to be limited to a direct, persistent, or otherwise limited communication channel. That is, according to embodiments, a communication link may be a persistent communication link, an intermittent communication link, an ad-hoc communication link, and/or the like. A communication link may refer to direct communications between one or more devices, and/or indirect communications that travel between the one or more devices via at least one other device (e.g., a repeater, router, hub, and/or the like). A communication link may facilitate uni-directional and/or bi-directional communication between the linked devices.
Any number of a variety of communication methods and protocols may be used, via communication links, to facilitate communication between devices in the DBS 200. For example, wired and/or wireless communications methods may be used. Wired communication methods may include, for example and without limitation, traditional copper-line communications such as DSL, broadband technologies such as ISDN and cable modems, and fiber optics, while wireless communications may include cellular communications, satellite communications, radio frequency (RF) communications, infrared communications, induction, conduction, acoustic communications, and/or the like.
The illustrative components shown in
The lumen 304 may be configured to facilitate delivery of a treatment substrate to the therapy region. Delivery of a treatment substrate “to a therapy region” refers to delivery of a treatment substrate to a therapy region or near the therapy region. The lumen 304 may include a distal opening 322 through which the treatment substrate may be provided to the therapy region. In embodiments, the treatment substrate may be provided to the lumen 304, flow through the lumen 304, and exit the lumen 304 via the distal opening 322. In certain instances, an interior surface 324 of the lumen 304 may include a lubricious coating that is configured to facilitate delivery of the treatment substrate by promoting movement of the treatment substrate through the lumen 304 In certain instances, the lubricious coating may be polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), teflon, and/or parylene. In embodiments, the DBS lead 300 may also include an insulation layer 326 arranged between the electrodes 306-320 and the lumen 304. The insulation layer 326 may be configured to prevent conduction of electricity from the electrodes 306-320 into the treatment substrate.
In embodiments, the lumen 304 may be sized to receive a delivery catheter (not shown) having a catheter lumen configured to deliver the treatment substrate, via one or more substrate delivery openings disposed at or near a distal end of the delivery catheter, to the therapy region. The delivery catheter may be configured to move within the lumen 304 such that the distal end of the delivery catheter protrudes from the distal opening 322 of the lead body 302, exposing the one or more substrate delivery openings to the therapy region.
In addition to being configured to determine a therapy region based on a physiological signal obtained by one or more of the electrodes 306-320, the DBS lead 300 may be further configured to direct stimulation toward the therapy region. Different electrode combinations of the electrodes 306-320 may be selected to change a target location of the therapy region for the stimulation. Based on analysis of the obtained physiological signal, a controller (e.g., the controller 104 depicted in
The illustrative components shown in
As shown in
In embodiments, one or more of the therapy regions 402, 404, 406 may be treated at the same time. For instance, the controller may direct more than one electrode combination to provide stimulation energy. One or more of the electrodes 408-422 may be toggled to produce an electrical stimulation pulse, and at least another of the electrodes 408-422 may be toggled to withhold production of an electrical stimulation pulse. As shown with reference to the third therapy region 406, at least one electrode 422 of the electrodes 408-422 may be toggled to produce an electrical stimulation pulse, and is arranged near the therapy region 406. In this instance, the remaining electrodes 408-420 may be toggled to withhold production of an electrical stimulation pulse.
As shown in
To facilitating directing the treatment substrate to the therapy region, the DBS lead 500 may include at least one valve that is configured to close an associated port. As shown in
In certain instances, the DBS lead 500 may include a sheath 548 that is configured to direct the treatment substrate through at least one of the ports 522-532 to deliver the treatment substrate to the therapy region. The sheath 548 may pass through the lumen 504, and may be translated along the lumen 504 to cover one or more of the ports 522-532. In addition, the sheath 548 may include associated holes or gaps that allow for covering of one or more of the ports 522-532 that are further downstream compared to others, certain combinations of ports 522-532, and/or the like. That is, for example, the sheath 548 may be configured to selectively cover port 526 and/or port 528 and not cover port 524 and/or port 530. Similarly, in another example, the sheath 548 may be configured to cover port 526 and/or port 528 and not cover port 522, port 524, port 530, and/or port 532. In embodiments, the lead 500 may include the sheath 548 as well as one or more valves 536-546, and the sheath 548 may be used in connection with the valves 536-546 to facilitate delivery of the treatment substrate to the therapy region.
The illustrative components shown in
As is shown at block 604, embodiments of the method 600 for treating an ischemic brain condition of a patient also include determining a therapy region based on a physiological signal. For example, the method 600 may include using one of the DBS leads described with reference to
In embodiments, delivering the treatment substrate to the therapy region includes delivering the treatment substrate through a lumen arranged within the DBS lead. The treatment substrate may be provided through the lumen directly, or using a catheter sized to be slideably disposed within the lumen. The DBS lead may include a number of ports extending through an external surface of the lead to the lumen, and delivering the treatment substrate to the therapy region may include directing the treatment substrate through one or more of the ports. In embodiments, delivering the treatment substrate to the therapy region may include directing the treatment substrate to the therapy region and directing stimulation toward the therapy region using one or more electrodes arranged circumferentially around a DBS lead.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/326,875, filed Apr. 25, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62326875 | Apr 2016 | US |
