METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GASTROINTESTINAL STIMULATION VIA THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system for delivering stimulation to a target region in a body having lymphatic vessels and a gastrointestinal (GI) tract including GI organs and nerves innervating the GI organs, the target region including portions of the GI tract, the system comprising:
- a first electrode assembly including a first electrode base configured to be implanted into one of the lymphatic vessels and a first stimulation electrode on the first electrode base, the first electrode base configured to cause a portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels to substantially alter its natural path to contact the target region and maintain the contact between the portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels and the target region after an implantation of the first electrode assembly; and
an implantable medical device including;
a GI stimulation circuit adapted to deliver GI stimuli through the first stimulation electrode; and
an implant control circuit coupled to the GI stimulation circuit, the implant control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using a plurality of stimulation parameters selected to stimulate one or more of the GI organs and the nerves innervating the GI organs.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable gastrointestinal (GI) stimulation system includes an implantable medical device and at least one stimulus delivery device configured to be placed in one or more lymphatic vessels of a patient, such as the patient'"'"'s thoracic duct and/or vessels branching from the thoracic duct. In one embodiment, the implantable medical device includes a GI stimulation circuit to deliver electrical stimulation pulses to one or more target regions adjacent to a lymphatic vessel through the stimulus delivery device. In one embodiment, to control obesity, the electrical stimulation pulses are delivered to the organs and/or nerves of the GI tract to create a sensation of satiety and/or to expedite food movement through the GI tract.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for delivering stimulation to a target region in a body having lymphatic vessels and a gastrointestinal (GI) tract including GI organs and nerves innervating the GI organs, the target region including portions of the GI tract, the system comprising:
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a first electrode assembly including a first electrode base configured to be implanted into one of the lymphatic vessels and a first stimulation electrode on the first electrode base, the first electrode base configured to cause a portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels to substantially alter its natural path to contact the target region and maintain the contact between the portion of the one of the lymphatic vessels and the target region after an implantation of the first electrode assembly; and an implantable medical device including; a GI stimulation circuit adapted to deliver GI stimuli through the first stimulation electrode; and an implant control circuit coupled to the GI stimulation circuit, the implant control circuit adapted to control the delivery of the GI stimuli using a plurality of stimulation parameters selected to stimulate one or more of the GI organs and the nerves innervating the GI organs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for delivering stimulation to a body having lymphatic vessels and a gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the lymphatic vessels including a thoracic duct and vessels branching from the thoracic duct, the GI tract including GI organs and nerves innervating the GI organs, the method comprising:
delivering GI stimuli to one or more of the GI organs and the nerves innervating the GI organs from an implantable medical device through at least a first stimulation electrode placed in one of the lymphatic vessels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification