Claims
- 1. A pancreatic controller, comprising:
at least one electrode adapted for electrifying at least a portion of a pancreas; and a controller programmed to electrify said electrode so as to positively control at least the effect of at least two members of a group consisting of blood glucose level, blood insulin level and blood level of another pancreatic hormone.
- 2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling comprises modifying said at least two members simultaneously.
- 3. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling comprises selectively modifying only one of said at least two members, while at least reducing a causative interaction between said two members.
- 4. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling comprises maintaining at least one of said members within a desired physiologic range.
- 5. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said at least two members comprise glucose level and insulin level.
- 6. A controller according to claim 5, wherein controlling comprises modulating an effect of said insulin not related to carbohydrate metabolism.
- 7. A controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two members comprise glucagon.
- 8. A controller according to claim 7, wherein controlling comprises increasing glucagon secretion, to contract an effect of insulin.
- 9. A controller according to claim 7, wherein controlling comprises increasing glucagon secretion, to achieve higher blood glucose levels.
- 10. A controller according to claim 7, wherein controlling comprises reducing the secretion of glucagon, when insulin secretion is increased.
- 11. A controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said two members comprise Somatostatin.
- 12. A controller according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said members comprises glucose level.
- 13. A controller according to claim 12, wherein said controller selects between alternative control therapies, a therapy that has a least disrupting effect on said glucose levels.
- 14. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said controller uses solely electrical fields to control said members.
- 15. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said controller takes molecules provided in the body, into account, for said control.
- 16. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said molecules are provided without a control of said controller.
- 17. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said molecules are provided under a control of said controller.
- 18. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said molecules suppress the secretion of at least one pancreatic hormone.
- 19. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said molecules suppress the effect of at least one pancreatic hormone.
- 20. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said molecules enhance the secretion of at least one pancreatic hormone.
- 21. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said molecules enhance the effect of at least one pancreatic hormone.
- 22. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling a member hormone comprises suppressing a secretion of an antagonistic hormone.
- 23. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling a member hormone comprises enhancing a secretion of an antagonistic hormone.
- 24. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a learning memory module for storing therein feedback interaction of said pancreas.
- 25. A controller according to claim 24, wherein said feedback interactions comprises interactions between hormone levels.
- 26. A controller according to claim 24, wherein said feedback interactions comprises interactions between hormone levels.
- 27. A controller according to claim 24, wherein said feedback interactions are dependent on blood glucose levels.
- 28. A controller according to claim 24, wherein said feedback interactions are determined by said controller, by tracking a behavior of said pancreas.
- 29. A controller according to claim 28, wherein said controller actively modifies at least one of a glucose level and a pancreatic hormone level, to collect feedback interaction information.
- 30. A controller according to claim 1, comprising a sensor for sensing a level of said controlled member.
- 31. A controller according to claim 1, comprising an estimator for estimating a level of said controlled member.
- 32. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said electrode applies a non-excitatory pulse to effect said control.
- 33. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said electrode applies an excitatory pulse to effect said control.
- 34. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said electrode modifies blood flow associated with said pancreas to effect said control.
- 35. A controller according to claim 34, wherein said modified blood flow comprises blood flow to hormone generating cells of said pancreas.
- 36. A controller according to claim 34, wherein said modified blood flow comprises blood flow from said pancreas.
- 37. A controller according to claim 34, wherein said modified blood flow comprises blood flow from hormone generating cells of said pancreas.
- 38. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said at least one electrode comprises at least two electrodes that selectively electrify different parts of said pancreas, to achieve a desired control of said at least two members.
- 39. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling comprises controlling secretion.
- 40. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling comprises controlling production.
- 41. A controller according to claim 1, wherein controlling comprises controlling physiological activity.
- 42. A method of mapping pancreatic behavior of a pancreas, comprising:
determining a behavior of a pancreas at a first set of conditions; determining a behavior of a pancreas at a second set of conditions; and analyzing the behavior of the pancreas and the sets of conditions, to determine a behavior pattern of the pancreas.
- 43. A method according to claim 42, wherein said behavior pattern comprises an interrelationship between two hormones of said pancreas.
- 44. A method according to claim 42 wherein said sets of conditions are naturally occurring.
- 45. A method according to claim 42 wherein said sets of conditions are at least partially artificially induced.
- 46. A method according to claim 42, comprising controlling said pancreas responsive to said determined behavior.
- 47. A method according to claim 46, wherein controlling comprises controlling using pharmaceuticals.
- 48. A method according to claim 46, wherein controlling comprises controlling using electrical fields.
- 49. A method of controlling burst activity of a pancreas, comprising:
applying an electrical field to at least part of a pancreas such that burst activity is initiated a few seconds after said application; and repeating said application a plurality of times such that substantially all burst activity of said part of a pancreas during a time period spanning said applications is synchronized to said application and repeated application.
- 50. A method according to claim 49, comprising varying a repetition rate of said application to control a burst rat of said at least part of a pancreas.
- 51. A method of controlling activity of a pancreas, comprising:
providing a source of electrical fields; and electrifying said source to apply an electric field to at least part of a pancreas, such that said applied field increases an amplitude of at least one burst following said application.
- 52. A method according to claim 51, wherein said applied field does not induce a new burst.
- 53. A method according to claim 51, wherein said applied field does not substantially change a burst rate of said pancreas.
- 54. A method according to claim 51, wherein said increased amplitude burst provides an increased level of insulin relative to a normal amplitude burst.
- 55. A method according to claim 51, comprising synchronizing said electrification to a natural burst sequence of said at least part of a pancreas.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/IL00/00132 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
|
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT application PCT/IL00/00566, now published as WO 01/66183, which designates the US. This application is also a continuation-in-part of PCT application PCT/IL00/00132, filed on Mar. 5, 2000, which designates the US, now U.S. application Ser. No. 09/914,889. This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 60/123,532, filed Mar. 5, 1999. This application is also related to PCT publication WO 99/03533. The disclosures of all of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/IL00/00566 |
Sep 2000 |
US |
Child |
10237263 |
Sep 2002 |
US |