Gastric stimulation anchor and method

• US 20060111753A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IntraPace, Inc.
• Inventors: Layman, Ted W., Colliou, Olivier K., Imran, Mir A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,756,582 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 device, system and method for electrically stimulating the stomach is provided. A device system and method for attaching a stimulating device to the stomach wall is also provided.

Claims

1. A gastric stimulation device comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing;

at least one stimulating electrode configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and configured to be positioned so that it is in electrical contact with the stomach tissue; and

an attachment device coupled to the housing and operative to couple the housing within a stomach cavity to the fundus region of a stomach.

2. The gastric stimulation device of claim 1 further comprising a flexible member coupled to the housing and the attachment device.

3. The gastric stimulation device of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrode anchor operative to couple the at least one stimulating electrode to the antrum of the stomach.

4. The gastric stimulation device of claim 3 further comprising a flexible member coupled to the electrode anchor and the housing.

5. The gastric stimulation device of claim 1

wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to deliver electrically stimulating signals to the stomach tissue through the at least one stimulating electrode.

6. A gastric stimulation device comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing;

at least one stimulating electrode configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and configured to be positioned so that it is in electrical contact with the stomach tissue;

an attachment device coupled to the housing and operative to couple the housing within a stomach cavity to the stomach; and

an electrode anchor operative to couple the at least one stimulating electrode to the antrum of the stomach.

7. The gastric stimulation device of claim 6 further comprising a flexible member coupled to the electrode anchor and the housing.

8. The gastric stimulation device of claim 7 further comprising a second flexible member coupled to the attachment device and the housing.

9. A gastric stimulation device comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing

at least one stimulating electrode configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and configured to be positioned so that it is in electrical contact with the stomach tissue;

an attachment device coupled to the housing and operative to couple the housing within a stomach cavity to the stomach;

an electrode anchor operative to couple the at least one stimulating electrode to the stomach; and

a flexible member coupling the housing to the attachment device.

10. A gastric stimulation device comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing at least one stimulating electrode configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, and configured to be positioned so that it is in electrical contact with the stomach tissue;

an attachment device coupled to the housing and operative to couple the housing within a stomach cavity to the stomach;

an electrode anchor operative to couple the at least one stimulating electrode to the stomach; and

a flexible member coupling the housing to the electrode anchor.

11. A gastric stimulation device comprising:

a housing;

electronic circuitry contained within the housing

an attachment device coupled to the housing and operative to couple the housing within a stomach cavity to the stomach;

a lead comprising an elongate portion having a first portion including an anchor;

a second portion; and

at least one stimulating electrode located on the elongate portion between the first portion and the second portion and configured to be electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry;

wherein the wherein the elongate portion is configured to extend from within the stomach, through the stomach wall and back into the stomach so that the at least one electrode is in electrical contact with the tissue within the stomach wall.

12. The gastric stimulation device of claim 11 wherein the at least one stimulating electrode comprises a plurality of electrodes wherein the elongate member is configured to extend through the stomach wall so that the plurality of electrodes are in electrical contact with the tissue within the stomach wall.

13. The gastric stimulation device of claim 11 wherein the anchor is configured to engage the inside of the stomach wall.

14. A method for attaching a electrical stimulator to the stomach comprising the steps of:

providing an electrode and a housing having an electronics circuit operable to deliver electrically stimulating signals through the electrode;

attaching the housing to the stomach wall with a first flexible member coupled to a first anchor;

attaching an electrode to the stomach to the housing with a second flexible member coupled to the housing.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of providing an electrode anchor and attaching the electrode to the stomach wall with the electrode anchor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of attaching the electrode anchor comprises attaching the electrode anchor with a second flexible member coupled to the housing.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second flexible member comprises a lead.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching the housing to the stomach wall with a first flexible member coupled to a first anchor comprises attaching the first anchor to the fundus region of a stomach.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of attaching the electrode to the stomach wall comprises attaching the electrode anchor to the antrum of the stomach.