Gastric stimulator apparatus and method for installing
First Claim
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1. Method of installing a plurality of electrodes to tissue in the viscera for electrical stimulation of said tissue, comprising:
- providing a first electrode-pair attachment member configured to pass through the tissue and supporting first and second electrodes thereon spaced a first distance apart, a second electrode-pair attachment member configured to pass through the tissue and supporting third and fourth electrodes thereon spaced a second distance apart, and a flexible bridging portion attached to the first and second electrode attachment members and configured to allow relative positioning of the first and second electrode attachment members in the tissue such that the first, second, third and fourth electrodes are substantially equidistantly spaced apart;
laparoscopically inserting the first and second electrode attachment members, the electrodes, and the bridging member through a surgical access opening in the patient; and
passing the first and second electrode attachment members through the neuromuscular tissue such that the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are substantially equidistantly spaced apart, thereby forming an electrical interface between the electrodes and the neuromuscular tissue.
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Abstract
Apparatus for stimulating neuromuscular tissue of the gastrointestinal tract and methods for installing the apparatus to the neuromuscular tissue. Four electrodes are supported by an electrode assembly for attachment to the neuromuscular tissue. The electrodes are oriented substantially equidistantly with respect to the tissue and provide an electrical interface with the neuromuscular tissue. The pulse generator is provided with a switching matrix, and may stimulate the tissue in a time-varying manner by selecting pairs of electrodes and altering the polarities thereof while stimulating the tissue.
79 Citations
35 Claims
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1. Method of installing a plurality of electrodes to tissue in the viscera for electrical stimulation of said tissue, comprising:
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providing a first electrode-pair attachment member configured to pass through the tissue and supporting first and second electrodes thereon spaced a first distance apart, a second electrode-pair attachment member configured to pass through the tissue and supporting third and fourth electrodes thereon spaced a second distance apart, and a flexible bridging portion attached to the first and second electrode attachment members and configured to allow relative positioning of the first and second electrode attachment members in the tissue such that the first, second, third and fourth electrodes are substantially equidistantly spaced apart;
laparoscopically inserting the first and second electrode attachment members, the electrodes, and the bridging member through a surgical access opening in the patient; and
passing the first and second electrode attachment members through the neuromuscular tissue such that the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are substantially equidistantly spaced apart, thereby forming an electrical interface between the electrodes and the neuromuscular tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Method of applying electrical stimulation to the neuromuscular tissue in the viscera, comprising:
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providing an electrode attachment assembly supporting first, second, third and fourth electrodes thereon for attachment to the tissue such that the first, second, third and fourth electrodes are substantially equidistantly spaced apart;
laparoscopically inserting the electrode attachment assembly through a surgical access opening in the patient;
attaching the electrode attachment assembly to the neuromuscular tissue such that the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes are substantially equidistantly spaced apart, thereby forming an electrical interface between each of the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes and the neuromuscular tissue; and
electrically stimulating the tissue in a time-varying manner with selectable pairs of the first, second, third and fourth electrodes with a pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Apparatus for electrically stimulating neuromuscular tissue of the viscera by applying electrical pulses to the neuromuscular tissue, the electrical pulses supplied by a pulse generator, comprising:
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first and second electrodes electrically connected with the pulse generator;
first electrode-pair attachment member having a body portion configured to penetrate through the tissue and supporting the first and second electrodes thereon spaced a first distance apart;
third and fourth electrodes electrically connected with the pulse generator;
second electrode-pair attachment member having a body portion configured to penetrate through the tissue and supporting the third and fourth electrodes thereon spaced a second distance apart; and
bridging portion attached to the first and second electrode-pair attachment members and configured to allow relative positioning of the first and second electrode-pair attachment members in the tissue such that the first, second, third and fourth electrodes may be substantially equidistantly spaced apart. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification