Intra-luminal device for gastrointestinal stimulation

• US 20060247720A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,580,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6882 Anchoring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

A stimulation device for electrical stimulation of a target location of a gastrointestinal tract of a patient that includes a device housing sized for introduction into a gastrointestinal tract, wherein the device housing is configured to attach to a connector, an electrical pulse generator, mounted within the device housing, to generate an electrical stimulation waveform, one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical pulse generator and mounted to the device housing to deliver the electrical stimulation waveform to the gastrointestinal tract, and a fixation structure to attach the device housing to the target location of the gastrointestinal tract, wherein the stimulation device is configured to be tethered to an area around the target location using the connector. A method for attaching a stimulation device of the invention to a wall of a gastrointestinal tract is also included

Claims

1. A stimulation device for electrical stimulation of a target location of a gastrointestinal tract of a patient, the device comprising:

a device housing sized for introduction into a gastrointestinal tract, wherein the device housing is configured to attach to a connector;

an electrical pulse generator, mounted within the device housing, to generate an electrical stimulation waveform;

one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical pulse generator and mounted to the device housing to deliver the electrical stimulation waveform to the gastrointestinal tract; and

a fixation structure to attach the device housing to the target location of the gastrointestinal tract,

wherein the stimulation device is configured to be tethered to an area around the target location using the connector.

2. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the device housing is configured to attach to a connector via a mechanical connection.

3. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the device housing is configured to attach to a connector via a chemical connection.

4. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the connector is a pin, a hook, a suture, a clip, or a loop.

5. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the connector is a loop.

6. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the connector is made of stainless steel, titanium, polyethylene, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or nitinol.

7. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the connector is biodegradable.

8. The stimulation device of claim 6, wherein the connector is polylactic acid (PLA), a copolymer of PLA and glycolic acid, a polymer of p-dioxanone, a polymer of 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, or an absorbable polyester of hydroxycarboxylic acid.

9. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the fixation structure is one or more pins, hooks, barbs, screws, sutures, clips, pincers, staples, or tacks.

10. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to be tethered to the area around the target location with an attachment device.

11. The stimulation device of claim 10, wherein the attachment device is one or more pins, hooks, clips, or loops.

12. The stimulation device of claim 11, wherein the attachment device is a surgical clip.

13. The stimulation device of claim 1, wherein the attachment device is biodegradable.

14. The stimulation device of claim 13, wherein the attachment device is polylactic acid (PLA), a copolymer of PLA and glycolic acid, a polymer of p-dioxanone, a polymer of 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, or an absorbable polyester of hydroxycarboxylic acid.

15. A stimulation system for electrical stimulation of a target location of a gastrointestinal tract of a patient, said system comprising:

a stimulation device comprising;

a device housing sized for introduction into a gastrointestinal tract of a patient;

an electrical pulse generator, mounted within the device housing, to generate an electrical stimulation waveform;

one or more electrodes electrically coupled to the electrical pulse generator and mounted to the device housing to deliver the electrical stimulation waveform to the gastrointestinal tract; and

a fixation structure to attach the device housing to a target location within the gastrointestinal tract of the patient;

a connector; and

an attachment device,

wherein the connector and the attachment device are configured to tether the stimulation device to an area near the target location.

16. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the device housing is configured to attach the connector via a mechanical connection.

17. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the device housing is configured to attach the connector via a chemical connection.

18. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the connector is a pin, a hook, a suture, a clip, or a loop.

19. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the connector is a loop.

20. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the connector is made of stainless steel, titanium, polyethylene, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or nitinol.

21. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the connector is biodegradable.

22. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the connector is polylactic acid (PLA), a copolymer of PLA and glycolic acid, a polymer of p-dioxanone, a polymer of 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, or an absorbable polyester of hydroxycarboxylic acid.

23. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the fixation structure is one or more pins, hooks, barbs, screws, sutures, clips, pincers, staples, or tacks.

24. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the attachment device is one or more pins, hooks, clips, or loops.

25. The stimulation system of claim 24, wherein the attachment device is a surgical clip.

26. The stimulation system of claim 15, wherein the attachment device is biodegradable.

27. The stimulation system of claim 26, wherein the attachment device is polylactic acid (PLA), a copolymer of PLA and glycolic acid, a polymer of p-dioxanone, a polymer of 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, or an absorbable polyester of hydroxycarboxylic acid.

28. A method of attaching a stimulation device to a wall of a gastrointestinal tract comprising the steps of:

positioning the stimulation device at a target location within the gastrointestinal tract with an endoscopic delivery device;

securing the stimulation device to the target location using a fixation structure carried by the stimulation device;

tethering the stimulation device to an area around the target location using at least one connector and attachment device;

withdrawing the endoscopic delivery device from the patient.