Stimulation of the stomach in response to sensed parameters to treat obesity

• US 20060129201A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Whitehurst, Todd K., Woods, Carla M., Lee, Philip H. J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,746 B2
• 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 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

Systems for treating an obese patient include one or more sensors configured to sense one or more physical parameters of the patient and one or more implanted stimulators configured to apply a stimulus to the stomach in response to the sensed parameters. Methods of treating an obese patient include sensing one or more physical parameters of the patient and applying a stimulus to the stomach with one or more implanted stimulators in response to the sensed parameters.

Claims

1. A system for treating an obese patient, said system comprising:

one or more sensors configured to sense one or more physical parameters of said patient; and

one or more implanted stimulators configured to apply a stimulus to a stomach of said patient in response to said sensed parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more physical parameters comprise at least one or more of a distension of said stomach, a strain of said stomach, an electrical signal produced by said stomach, a rate of digestion of food within said stomach, food intake into said stomach, one or more gastric slow waves produced by said stomach, an electrical activity in the brain of said patient, a neurotransmitter level, a hormone level, a metabolic activity, a blood flow rate, a medication level, a temperature of tissue in said patient, and a physical activity level of said patient.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said stimulus is applied to at least one or more of a lesser curvature of said stomach, a greater curvature of said stomach, a wall of said stomach, a cardia of said stomach, a fundus of said stomach, an antrum of said stomach, a pylorus of said stomach, a layer of said stomach, a nerve that innervates said stomach, and a blood vessel that supplies said stomach.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors comprise at least one or more of a pressure sensor, a strain gauge, and a force transducer.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more electrode contacts electrically coupled to said stimulator;

wherein said stimulus comprises an electrical stimulation current delivered to said stomach via said electrode contacts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said stimulus comprises one or more drugs delivered at said stomach.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said stimulus applied by said stimulators comprises an intermittent stimulation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a body of at least one of said one or more stimulators is coupled directly to a wall of said stomach.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors are housed within said one or more stimulators.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more stimulators comprise:

a first stimulator configured to emit a signal having a signal strength; and

a second stimulator configured to sense said signal strength;

wherein said first and second stimulators are configured to apply said stimulus to said stomach in response to said sensed signal strength.

11. A method of treating an obese patient, said method comprising:

sensing one or more physical parameters of said patient; and

applying a stimulus to a stomach of said patient with one or more implanted stimulators in response to said sensed parameters.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said one or more physical parameters comprise at least one or more of a distension of said stomach, a strain of said stomach, an electrical signal produced by said stomach, a rate of digestion of food within said stomach, food intake into said stomach, one or more gastric slow waves produced by said stomach, an electrical activity in the brain of said patient, a neurotransmitter level, a hormone level, a metabolic activity, a blood flow rate, a medication level, a temperature of tissue in said patient, and a physical activity level of said patient.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising applying said stimulus to at least one or more of a lesser curvature of said stomach, a greater curvature of said stomach, a wall of said stomach, a cardia of said stomach, a fundus of said stomach, an antrum of said stomach, a pylorus of said stomach, a layer of said stomach, a nerve that innervates said stomach, and a blood vessel that supplies said stomach.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said stimulus comprises an electrical stimulation current delivered to said stomach.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said stimulus comprises one or more drugs delivered at said stomach.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of applying said stimulus to said stomach comprises intermittently stimulating said stomach in response to said sensed activity.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling a body of at least one of said one or more stimulators directly to a wall of said stomach.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

emitting a signal having a signal strength with one of said stimulators;

sensing said signal strength with another of said stimulators; and

stimulating said stomach in response to said sensed signal strength.

19. A system for treating an obese patient, said system comprising:

means for sensing one or more physical parameters of said patient; and

means for applying a stimulus to a stomach of said patient with one or more implanted stimulators in response to said sensed parameters.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said one or more physical parameters comprise at least one or more of a distension of said stomach, a strain of said stomach, an electrical signal produced by said stomach, a rate of digestion of food within said stomach, food intake into said stomach, one or more gastric slow waves produced by said stomach, an electrical activity in the brain of said patient, a neurotransmitter level, a hormone level, a metabolic activity, a blood flow rate, a medication level, a temperature of tissue in said patient, and a physical activity level of said patient.