Pseudounipolar lead for stimulating a digestive organ

• US 20060074457A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Imran, Mir A., Bashyam, Jacob Anthiah
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0003 Apparatus for the treatment of obesity; Anti-eating devices surgical instruments or methods for treatment of obesity, devices specially adapted therefor A61B17/00; hollow or tubular parts of organs A61F2/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0233 specifically adapted for attaching to a body wall by means which are on both sides of the wall, e.g. for attaching to an abdominal wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/028 having a mainly rigid support structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0509 Stomach and intestinal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0517 Esophageal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers

Abstract

A pseudounipolar stimulator lead for anchoring to a digestive organ is provided.

Claims

1. A stimulator for stimulating a digestive organ comprising:

an implantable stimulator comprising;

a first electrode configured to be positioned in electrical contact with the digestive organ when deployed; and

a second electrode configured to be coupled to the digestive organ when deployed,

wherein the first electrode and second electrode are configured to form an electrode pair, and wherein the first electrode has a first surface area and the second electrode has a second surface area greater than the first surface area, wherein the first surface area is about 2 to 20 mm² and wherein the second surface area is about 50 to 200 mm².

2. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is about 2:

5 or less.

3. The stimulator of claim 2 wherein the ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is between about 1:

40 and 2;

5.

4. The stimulator of claim 1 further comprising a retention device including said first electrode, wherein the retention device is configured to be attached to a wall of the organ so that the first electrode is in contact with the organ.

5. The stimulator of claim 4 wherein the second electrode is located on the retention device.

6. The stimulator of claim 1 further comprising a electronics housing configured to be coupled to the anchor, where electronics housing comprising electronic circuitry configured to be coupled to the first electrode and second electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the digestive organ.

7. The stimulator of claim 6 wherein the second electrode is located on the housing.

8. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the stimulator is configured to be delivered endoscopically to a digestive organ.

9. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the stimulator is configured to be attached to a stomach wall.

10. The stimulator of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises:

an expandable distal portion; and

an elongate portion coupled to the expandable distal portion wherein the elongate portion is configured to extend at least in part through the wall of the digestive organ, the elongate portion comprising a narrower more distal portion and a wider more proximal portion.

11. The stimulator of claim 10 wherein the first electrode is located on the narrower more distal portion of the elongate member, and wherein the second electrode is located on the wider more proximal portion of the elongate member.

12. A stimulator for stimulating a digestive organ comprising:

an implantable stimulator comprising;

a first electrode configured to be positioned in electrical contact with the digestive organ when deployed; and

a second electrode configured to be coupled to the digestive organ when deployed,

wherein the first electrode and second electrode are configured to form an electrode pair, and wherein the first electrode has a first surface area and the second electrode has a second surface area greater than the first surface area, the first surface area and second surface area having a ratio with respect to each other, wherein the ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is about 2;

5 or less.

13. The stimulator of claim 12 further comprising a retention device including said first electrode, wherein the retention device is configured to be attached to a wall of the organ so that the first electrode is in contact with the organ.

14. The stimulator of claim 13 wherein the second electrode is located on the retention device.

15. The stimulator of claim 12 further comprising a electronics housing configured to be coupled to the anchor, where electronics housing comprising electronic circuitry configured to be coupled to the first electrode and second electrode to deliver an electrical signal to the digestive organ.

16. The stimulator of claim 15 wherein the second electrode is located on the housing.