Nerve conduction block treatment

• US 20040172086A1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beta Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Wilson, Richard R., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,969 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0551 Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36053 adapted for vagal stimulation A61N1/36114 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36071 Pain

Abstract

At least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient are treated where the disorders are associated with a gastrointestinal tract of a patient where the disorders are characterized at least in part by hyper-tonal vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of alimentary tract organs of the patient at an innervation site. The treatment includes applying a neural conduction block to a vagus nerve of the patient at a blocking site proximal to the innervation site. The neural conduction block is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on the vagus nerve at the blocking site. A treatment apparatus has an electrically controllable neural conduction electrode adapted to be placed on a vagus nerve of a patient at a blocking site proximal to an innervation site.

Claims

1. A method for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient where the disorders are associated with a gastrointestinal tract of a patient where said disorders are characterized at least in part by hyper-tonal vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of alimentary tract organs of said patient at an innervation site, said method comprising:

applying a neural conduction block to a vagus nerve of said patient at a blocking site proximal to said innervation site with said neural conduction block selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said vagus nerve at said blocking site.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein application of said neural conduction block is variable by a controller to alter a characteristic of said block.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said neural conduction block is a cryogenic block.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said proximal neural conduction block is a pharmacologic block.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said proximal neural conduction block is an electrical conductive block.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one of a plurality of disorders is obesity.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said neural conduction block is regulated to heighten a sensation of satiety of said patient.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one of a plurality of disorders is constipation.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one of a plurality of disorders is irritable bowel syndrome.

10. An apparatus for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders of a patient where the disorders are associated with a gastrointestinal tract of a patient where said disorders are characterized at least in part by hyper-tonal vagal activity innervating at least one of a plurality of alimentary tract organs of said patient at an innervation site, said apparatus comprising:

an electrically controllable neural conduction electrode adapted to be placed on a vagus nerve of said patient at a blocking site proximal to said innervation site;

a blocking signal generator for generating a blocking signal selected to at least partially block nerve impulses on said vagus nerve at said blocking site.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 comprising a controller for selectively controlling parameters of said blocking stimulation.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said controller is implantable within said patient'"'"'s body.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said controller is inductively coupled to said blocking electrode to electrically controlling said electrode and member remote from an interior of said patient'"'"'s body.