Methods and devices for gastrointestinal stimulation

• US 20080058887A1
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ValenTx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ValenTx, Inc.
• Inventors: Dann, Mitchell, Fluet, Greg, Griffin, Bobby
• Granted Patent: US 7,881,797 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Methods and devices for gastrointestinal stimulation are disclosed. In one embodiment, disclosed is an electrical stimulator device that includes a circuit board and a battery contained within a base housing; a conduction element; and at least one electrode. In some embodiments, the stimulator base housing can be directly attached to a wall of a body lumen. In other embodiments, the stimulator base housing can be attached to a cuff or a sleeve device. In still other embodiments, one or more elements of the system are free-floating within the GI tract. The devices can be delivered endoscopically, and in some embodiments toposcopically.

Claims

1. A gastrointestinal stimulation system, comprising:

a gastrointestinal bypass sleeve; and

an electrical stimulator component.

2. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulator component is attached to the sleeve.

3. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 1, further comprising a gastrointestinal attachment cuff having a tubular body, a proximal end and a distal end.

4. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulator component comprises a circuit board and a battery;

a conductive element; and

at least one electrode.

5. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 4, wherein the battery is configured to be recharged using RF energy.

6. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 4, wherein the conductive element is a ribbon.

7. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 6, wherein the ribbon has one of a U-shaped or S-shaped cross-section.

8. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulator is triggered by a sensor configured to detect one of the group selected from:

pressure, temperature, pH, motion, and strain.

9. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 4, wherein the conductive element is a lead wire.

10. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 4, further comprising at least one biasing element operably connected to an electrode.

11. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 10, wherein the biasing element is configured to increase one of the contact surface area or the contact surface time between the electrode and a lumen of the gastrointestinal tract.

12. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 1, wherein the gastrointestinal bypass sleeve is at least partially inverted within itself, and adapted for eversion within the gastrointestinal tract.

13. The gastrointestinal stimulation system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the electrical stimulation component is attached to a serosal surface of a wall of the gastrointestinal tract.

14. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical stimulator component, the stimulator component comprising a circuit board and a power source contained within a base housing;

a conductive element; and

at least one electrode;

positioning the base housing of the electrical stimulator component in the patient'"'"'s digestive tract such that the base housing is positioned in the vicinity of the gastroesophageal junction;

securing the base housing to a structure in the vicinity of the gastroesophageal junction,

positioning the electrode within the intestine such that the electrode contacts the wall of the intestinal lumen; and

stimulating the intestinal lumen.

15. A method of treating a patient as in claim 14, wherein the securing step comprises advancing at least one tissue anchor through the tissue wall and positioning a retention surface on each tissue anchor in contact with the serosal surface.

16. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a gastrointestinal sleeve device having an elongate tubular body, with a proximal end and a distal end;

providing an electrical stimulation component comprising;

a circuit board and a battery contained within a base housing;

a conduction element; and

at least one electrode;

positioning the gastrointestinal sleeve device in the patient'"'"'s digestive tract;

positioning the base housing in the patient'"'"'s gastrointestinal tract; and

treating a patient using both the bypass sleeve and the electrical stimulator device.

17. The method of treating a patient as in claim 16, wherein the base housing is operably attached to the sleeve.

18. The method of treating a patient as in claim 16, wherein positioning of the electrical stimulation device and the gastrointestinal sleeve device does not occur during the same procedure.

19. The method of treating a patient as in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

providing a gastric space-filling device operably attached to the base housing of the electrical stimulation component; and

deploying the space-filling device within the stomach.

20. The method of treating a patient as in claim 19, wherein the space-filling device is a balloon.