Gastric electrical stimulation for treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease

• US 20040193229A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren L., Dinsmoor, David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/441,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20040193229A1
• 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 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

A system and method for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a patient are disclosed. Electrical stimulation pulses are generated by an implantable neurostimulator and delivered to a portion of a patient'"'"'s stomach located downstream from the lower esophageal sphincter via an implantable medical electrical lead.

Claims

1. A system for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease, comprising:

a pulse generator for generating stimulus pulses; and

a medical electrical lead adapted to deliver the stimulus pulses to the stomach downstream from the lower esophageal sphincter.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pulse generator is an implantable neurological stimulator.

3. A gastro-electric stimulator for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a patient, comprising:

a neuro-electrical stimulator for producing a stimulation signal;

at least one electrical lead having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the neuro-electrical stimulator and the distal end being positionable in a lead position within the patient'"'"'s stomach and downstream from the lower esophageal sphincter; and

,

at least two electrodes carried near the electrical lead distal end, the electrodes being electrically connected through the electrical lead to the neuro-electrical stimulator to receive the stimulation signal and convey such signal to an electrode position adjacent or within the stomach downstream of the lower esophageal sphincter.

4. The gastro-electric stimulator of claim 3, wherein the electrode position is selected from the group consisting of adjacent to or within the antrum of the stomach, the corpus of the stomach, the lesser curvature of the stomach, the greater curvature of the stomach, and the pacemaker region of the stomach.

5. The gastro-electric stimulator of claim 3, wherein the electrode position is upstream from the pylorus.

6. The gastro-electric stimulator of any of claims 3-5, wherein the stimulation signal frequency ranges between about 0.10 pulses per minute and about 18,000 pulses per minute.

7. The gastro-electric stimulator of any of claims 3-5, wherein the stimulation signal pulse width ranges between about 0.01 mS and about 500 mS.

8. The gastro-electric stimulator of any of claims 3-5, wherein the stimulation signal has a peak amplitude ranging between about 0.01 mA and about 500.0 mA.

9. A method for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a patient, comprising:

diagnosing gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a patient;

generating stimulus pulses; and

delivering the stimulus pulses to the stomach downstream from the lower esophageal sphincter in an amount and manner effective to at least reduce the symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in the patient.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of delivering stimulus pulses further comprises providing at least two electrodes across a portion of the patient'"'"'s stomach.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of delivering stimulus pulses further comprises positioning the electrodes adjacent or within at least one of the antrum of the stomach, the corpus of the stomach, the lesser curvature of the stomach, the greater curvature of the stomach, and the pacemaker region of the stomach.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of delivering stimulus pulses further comprises positioning the electrodes upstream from the pylorus.

13. The method of any of claims 10-12, wherein the stimulation signal frequency ranges between about 0.10 pulses per minute and about 18,000 pulses per minute.

14. The method of any of claims 10-12, wherein the stimulation signal pulse width ranges between about 0.01 mS and about 500 mS.

15. The method of any of claims 10-12, wherein the stimulation signal has a peak amplitude ranging between about 0.01 mA and about 500.0 mA.

16. A method for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease in a patient, comprising:

diagnosing gastro-esophageal reflux in a patient;

applying at least one electrode to the stomach of the patient downstream of the lower esophageal sphincter;

coupling the at least one electrode via at least one medical lead to a neurostimulator; and

stimulating the digestive system with a stimulation signal generated by the neurostimulator and conveyed through the lead to the at least one electrode in an amount and manner effective to at least reduce the symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease in the patient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering stimulus pulses further comprises providing at least two electrodes across a portion of the patient'"'"'s stomach.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering stimulus pulses further comprises positioning the electrodes adjacent or within at least one of the antrum of the stomach, the corpus of the stomach, the lesser curvature of the stomach, the greater curvature of the stomach, and the pacemaker region of the stomach.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of delivering stimulus pulses further comprises positioning the electrodes upstream from the pylorus.

20. The method of any of claims 17-19, wherein the stimulation signal frequency ranges between about 0.10 pulses per minute and about 18,000 pulses per minute.

21. The method of any of claims 17-19, wherein the stimulation signal pulse width ranges between about 0.01 mS and about 500 mS.

22. The method of any of claims 17-19, wherein the stimulation signal has a peak amplitude ranging between about 0.01 mA and about 500.0 mA.