Enteric rhythm management

• US 20040176812A1
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ReShape LifeSciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Beta Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Knudson, Mark B., Wilson, Richard R., Tweden, Katherine S., Conrad, Timothy R.
• Application Number:
  US10/675,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176812A1
• 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 gastrointestinal disorders is treated by stimulating an enteric nervous system of a patient to enhance a functional tone of the enteric nervous system. A treatment includes electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ. The electrical stimulation includes applying a stimulation signal at the stimulation site. An optional proximal electrical blocking signal is applied to the vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to the stimulation site. The proximal blocking signal is selected to at least partially block nerve impulses at the proximal blocking site.

Claims

1. A method for treating at least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders of a patient where said disorders are characterized at least in part by abnormal gastrointestinal system activity attributable at least in part to altered autonomic balance, said method comprising:

electrically stimulating an enteric nervous system of said patient to enhance a functional tone of said enteric nervous system, and

applying said stimulation with frequency of occurrence selected to elevate nerve activity sufficient to relieve symptoms.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

electrically stimulating pancreo-biliary organs of said alimentary tract to stimulate discharge of secretions of said pancreo-biliary organs into a duodenum of said patient by an amount sufficient to enhance a transport of contents through a gastrointestinal organ of said alimentary tract.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

electrically stimulating pancreo-biliary organs of said alimentary tract to induce discharge of secretions of said pancreo-biliary organs into a duodenum of said patient by an amount sufficient for receptors in a gastrointestinal organ of said patient to respond to said secretions to contribute to an enhancement of said functional tone of said enteric nervous system.

4. A method according to each of claims 1 or 2 wherein:

said electrical stimulation is created by placing an electrode on a vagus nerve of said patient and applying an electrical stimulating current to said electrode and create a stimulation signal in said vagus nerve.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising:

applying a proximal nerve conduction block on said vagus intermediate a site of said electrical stimulation and a central nervous system of said patient with said nerve block selected to block passage of said stimulation signal to said central nervous system.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said nerve conduction block is a cryogenic block.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein said proximal nerve conduction block is a pharmocologic block.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein said proximal nerve conduction block is an electrical conduction block.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein:

said electrical conduction block is selected to function during periods of application of said electrical stimulating current to said electrode.

10. A method according to claim 5 further comprising:

applying a distal nerve conduction block on said vagus with said site of said electrical stimulation disposed between said proximal and distal nerve blocks.

11. A method for treating at least one of a plurality of gastrointestinal disorders of a patient, said method comprising:

electrically stimulating a vagus nerve of said patient at a stimulation site proximal to at least one site of vagal innervation of a gastrointestinal organ of said patient, said electrical stimulation including applying a stimulation signal at said site;

applying a proximal electrical blocking signal to said vagus nerve at a proximal blocking site proximal to said stimulation site with said proximal blocking signal selected to at least partially block nerve impulses proximal to said proximal blocking site.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising:

applying a distal electrical blocking signal to said vagus nerve at a distal blocking site distal to said stimulation site with said distal blocking signal selected to at least partially block efferent transmission of said stimulation signal distal to said distal blocking site.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein said proximal blocking signal is variable by a controller to regulate transmission of afferent proximal to said proximal blocking site.

14. A method according to claim 12 wherein said distal blocking signal is variable by a controller to regulate transmission of efferent proximal to said distal blocking site.