Electrical stimulation therapy to promote gastric distention for obesity management

• US 20070282387A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Starkebaum, Warren
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to techniques for delivering electrical stimulation therapy to support obesity management. The electrical stimulation therapy is configured to cause at least partial gastric distention. Gastric distention tends to induce a sensation of fullness and thereby discourages excessive food intake by the patient. The electrical stimulation therapy may be delivered to the gastrointestinal tract of the patient by electrodes deployed by one or more implantable leads coupled to an electrical stimulator. The electrical stimulator delivers stimulation pulses having a pulse width in a range found to be effective in causing gastric distention.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating electrical stimulation pulses with a pulse width of approximately 1 to 50 milliseconds; and

applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is greater than or equal to approximatley 1.5 milliseconds.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is greater than or equal to approximatley 2 milliseconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is in a range of approximately 2 to 5 milliseconds.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is in a range of approximately 2.5 to 4 milliseconds.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract comprises applying the stimulation pulses to a stomach of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation pulses have an amplitude of approximately 1 to 20 milliamps and a pulse rate of approximately 1 to 60 Hertz.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation pulses have an amplitude of approximately 1 to 10 milliamps and a pulse rate of approximately 10 to 50 Hz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimulation pulses have an amplitude of approximately 3 to 6 milliamps, and a pulse rate of approximately 20 to 50 Hz.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of the stimulation pulses is selected to cause at least approximately a fifty percent increase in gastric volume.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the stimulation pulses has a pulse width of approximately 2 to 5 milliseconds, a pulse rate of approximately 20 to 50 Hz, and a current amplitude of approximately 1 to 10 milliamps.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying the stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract via one or more electrodes associated with one or more implantable leads.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising applying the stimulation pulses to the gastrointestinal tract via an implantable pulse generator and one or more electrodes associated with one or more implantable leads coupled to the implantable pulse generator.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient is a human patient.

7. The method of 6, wherein applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract comprises applying the stimulation pulses to at least one of a lesser or greater curvature of the stomach of the patient.

16. An implantable gastric stimulator comprising:

an electrical stimulation pulse generator that generates electrical stimulation pulses with a pulse width of approximately 1 to 50 milliseconds; and

one or more electrodes, coupled to the pulse generator, that apply the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of a patient to cause gastric distention.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is greater than or equal to approximatley 1.5 milliseconds.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is greater than or equal to approximatley 2 milliseconds.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is in a range of approximately 2 to 5 milliseconds.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is in a range of approximately 2.5 to 4 milliseconds.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the stimulation pulses have an amplitude of approximately 1 to 10 milliamps and a pulse rate of approximately 10 to 50 Hz.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the stimulation pulses have an amplitude of approximately 3 to 6 milliamps, and a pulse rate of approximately 20 to 50 Hz.

23. The device of claim 16, wherein the pulse width of the stimulation pulses is selected to cause at least approximately a fifty percent increase in gastric volume.

24. The device of claim 16, wherein each of the stimulation pulses has a pulse width of approximately 2 to 5 milliseconds, a pulse rate of approximately 20 to 50 Hz, and a current amplitude of approximately 1 to 10 milliamps.

25. The device of claim 16, further comprising one or more implantable leads, coupled to the implantable pulse generator, that carry at least some of the electrodes.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the electrical stimulation pulse generator is an implantable pulse generator.

27. The device of claim 16, wherein the stimulation pulses are selected to cause gastric distention in a human patient.

28. A method comprising:

generating electrical stimulation pulses with a pulse width of approximately 2 to 5 milliseconds and a pulse rate of approximately 10 to 50 Hz; and

applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of a human patient via an implantable pulse generator and one or more electrodes associated with one or more implantable leads coupled to the implantable pulse generator to cause gastric distention.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is in a range of approximately 2.5 to 4 milliseconds.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract comprises applying the stimulation pulses to a stomach of the patient.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein each of the stimulation pulses has a pulse width of approximately 2.5 to 4 milliseconds, a pulse rate of approximately 20 to 50 Hz, and a current amplitude of approximately 1 to 10 milliamps.

32. An implantable medical device comprising:

means for generating electrical stimulation pulses with a pulse width of approximately 2 to 5 milliseconds and a pulse rate of approximately 10 to 50 Hz; and

means for applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract of a human patient via an implantable pulse generator and one or more electrodes associated with one or more implantable leads coupled to the implantable pulse generator to cause gastric distention.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the pulse width of each of the stimulation pulses is in a range of approximately 2.5 to 4 milliseconds.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein applying the stimulation pulses to a gastrointestinal tract comprises applying the stimulation pulses to a stomach of the patient.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein each of the stimulation pulses has a pulse width of approximately 2.5 to 4 milliseconds, a pulse rate of approximately 20 to 50 Hz, and a current amplitude of approximately 1 to 10 milliamps.