Gastrointestinal electrical stimulation

• US 20050021101A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jiande Chen, Pankaj Jay Pasricha
• Original Assignee: Jiande Chen, Pankaj Jay Pasricha
• Inventors: Pasricha, Pankaj Jay, Chen, Jiande
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of regulating gastrointestinal action in a subject using a stimulatory electrode and a sensor to provide retrograde feedback control of electrical stimulation to the GI tract. The invention is further directed to a method for reducing weight in a subject, again using a stimulatory electrode and a sensor to provide retrograde feedback control of electrical stimulation to the stomach. The invention is further directed to a method of providing electrical field stimulation to a gastrointestinal organ, as well as a method of providing an electrical potential gradient in a gastrointestinal organ. Further provided is a method of stimulating the vagus nerve of a subject. Additionally provided is a method of placing a device in the gastrointestinal tract or wall of a subject from the exterior of the subject, using a needle to insert the device.

Claims

1. A method of providing electrical field stimulation to a gastrointestinal organ, the method comprising:

positioning a first stimulatory electrode in a gastrointestinal organ;

positioning a second stimulatory electrode in the gastrointestinal organ, the second stimulatory electrode being positioned at least about two centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode; and

electrically stimulating the gastrointestinal organ simultaneously through the first and the second stimulatory electrodes, wherein one of the first and the second stimulatory electrodes has a positive polarity and wherein the other one of the first and the second stimulatory electrodes has a negative polarity, thereby providing electrical field stimulation to the gastrointestinal organ between the first and the second stimulatory electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about three centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about five centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about ten centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach.

6. A method of providing electrical potential gradient in a gastrointestinal organ, the method comprising:

positioning a first stimulatory electrode in a gastrointestinal organ;

positioning a second stimulatory electrode in the gastrointestinal organ, the second stimulatory electrode being positioned at least about two centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode; and

electrically stimulating the gastrointestinal organ simultaneously through the first and the second stimulatory electrodes, wherein voltage generated by the first stimulatory electrode differs from voltage generated by the second stimulatory electrode, thereby providing an electrical potential gradient in the gastrointestinal organ between the first and the second stimulatory electrodes.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about three centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about five centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode.

9. The method of claim-6 wherein the second stimulatory electrode is positioned at least about ten centimeters from the first stimulatory electrode.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach.

11. A method of stimulating the vagus nerve of a subject, the method comprising:

positioning a stimulatory electrode in a gastrointestinal organ of a subject; and

generating electrical current in the gastrointestinal organ of the subject with the stimulating electrode, wherein the electrical current in the gastrointestinal organ of the subject stimulates the vagus nerve of the subject.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the gastrointestinal organ is the stomach.

13. A method of placing a device in the gastrointestinal tract of a subject from the exterior of the subject, the method comprising:

inserting an end of a needle having an interior bore from the exterior of a subject into the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, the gastrointestinal tract of the subject having a center defined by a wall, the wall having a thickness defining an interior wall adjacent to the center and an exterior wall, and the end of the needle being inserted through the wall into the center of the gastrointestinal tract;

inserting a device through the interior bore of the needle, wherein the device has an interior wall engaging means and wherein the device is inserted at least until the interior wall engaging means extends beyond the interior bore of the needle;

removing the needle; and

retracting the device until the interior wall engaging means engages the interior wall of the gastrointestinal tract of the subject, thereby placing the device in the gastrointestinal tract of the subject.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the device is a stimulatory electrode.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the device is a sensor.

16. A method of placing a device in the gastrointestinal wall of a subject from the exterior of the subject, the method comprising:

inserting an end of a needle having an interior bore from the exterior of a subject into the gastrointestinal wall of the subject, the gastrointestinal wall defining a center of a gastrointestinal tract of the subject, the gastrointestinal wall having a thickness defining an interior wall adjacent to the center and an exterior wall, and the needle being inserted until the end of the needle is positioned in the thickness of the wall between the interior wall and the exterior wall;

inserting a device through the interior bore of the needle, wherein the device has an engaging means and wherein the device is inserted until the engaging means extends beyond the interior bore of the needle into the thickness of the wall;

removing the needle; and

retracting the device until the engaging means engages the thickness of the wall, thereby placing the device in the gastrointestinal wall of the subject.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the device is a stimulatory electrode.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the device is a sensor.